Australia captain Sam Kerr will undergo trial in the United Kingdom after being accused of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer in London over a year ago.
Chelsea’s star player Kerr, who is famous in the football community, was charged on January 21, almost a year after the incident was alleged to have taken place.
"The charge relates to an incident involving a police officer who was responding to a complaint involving a taxi fare on 30 January 2023 in Twickenham," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
Kerr, who on the day before the incident notched up a hat-trick against Liverpool in the FA Cup, is set to appear in court in February next year.
According to British media, Kerr pleaded not guilty at Kingston Crown Court on Monday.
Kerr's agent didn’t comment on the matter, while Chelsea also did not immediately share their opinion when contacted.
Football Australia (FA) didn’t know about Kerr's legal trouble until the news broke early in Australia on Tuesday.
"We woke up to this this morning," FA boss James Johnson told reporters in Adelaide.
"Of course, it’s a very serious allegation. It regards racism and there’s no place for racism in our sport.
"At the same time Sam has rights, natural justice rights, procedural rights that she's got to work her way through and we're respectful of that."
Australia coach Tony Gustavsson was similarly surprised over the matter.
"The only thing I can comment on is my experience and interaction with Sam as a person, as a footballer, and I have only positive experiences," he told reporters in Sydney.
Kerr, Australia's highest scorer with 69 goals in 128 appearances, has been out of action since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury at Chelsea training in January.
She is also the first woman to appear on the cover of EA Sports' FIFA, the world's most popular football video game.
Last May, she was the flag-bearer of the Australian delegation at King Charles's coronation at Westminster Abbey.