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Why Sam Kerr has been cleared to return to the Matildas

Sam Kerr has been cleared to rejoin the Matildas
Sam Kerr has been cleared to rejoin the Matildas (The FA via Getty Images)
  • Star striker Sam Kerr will rejoin the Matildas squad this week after being cleared of racially harassing a police officer in London in 2023.
  • Kerr, who also plays for Chelsea, admitted to calling a Metropolitan Police officer “stupid and white” but denied it was racially aggravated harassment. She was found not guilty in February.
  • Football Australia, which reportedly only learned of the charge from media reports in March 2024, has decided not to take disciplinary action against Kerr after she met with senior officials last week.
  • Kerr, who has been sidelined for over a year due to an ACL injury, expressed “sincere regret for how events unfolded” and acknowledged the importance of leadership both on and off the pitch.
  • Football Australia chair Anter Isaac said the incident should not overshadow Kerr’s contributions to the game.
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