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Matildas striker Sam Kerr will be free to return as national team captain once she recovers from her serious knee injury after the Football Australia board decided on no further sanctions for her drunken night during which she verbally abused a London police constable.
The 31-year-old will continue her recovery in camp with the Matildas for the April matches against South Korea, but has not been cleared for a return to competitive football.
Her inclusion in the training squad prompted a meeting with the FA board, which issued a statement confirming Kerr will not face further penalties on Monday.
The FA said the striker “acknowledged her actions were not her best moment and recognised the broader impact it had”, but it concluded “Kerr’s professional and sincere acceptance of responsibility, as well as her acknowledgment of the far-reaching implications of on- and off-field actions, warranted no further action”.
Kerr was charged but found not guilty for racially aggravated harassment of the police officer in a high-profile trial during which the court was played bodycam footage of the Australian calling the constable “fucking stupid and white”.
On Monday, the Chelsea forward expressed “sincere regret” for the events of the night in early 2023 and the ensuing trial which concluded last month, and noted it had been an “incredibly difficult period” for her, her family, club, teammates and supporters.
“I recognise that leadership means being mindful of our actions both on and off the pitch,” she said. “I’m proud of the Matildas, the role I have played as a member of that team, and everything we stand for, and I’m committed to learning from this experience.
“Moving forward, I’m focused on doing my part to ensure we grow even stronger together, and I look forward to having the opportunity of rejoining the team once I’m fit and ready.”
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