Sam Kerr put her legal troubles behind her as a London court found her not guilty on one charge of racially aggravated abuse of a police officer. While the exoneration itself surely brought a sense of relief with it, things are looking even better now for the soccer star now that Football Australia has decided to let her return to the national squad.

Sam Kerr and the members of the Football Australia Board met to discuss the gravity of the whole situation. During the meeting, the 31-year-old condemned her actions, also recognizing the overall implications under the code of conduct that the Australian federation has applied for all associated with Football Australia.

“I want to express my sincere regret for how events unfolded,” said Kerr in a joint statement with the Matildas. “It was an incredibly difficult period for me, my family, my club, my teammates, and especially for the fans whose support means so much to us,” she added. Additionally, she expressed her recognition of how leadership entails being on best conduct both “on and off the pitch.” 

“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,” Kerr continued. She also went on to promise she will devote herself to contributing to the team as she noted her eagerness to rejoin the team once she is “fit and ready.” 

Notably, the event dates back to January 30, 2023. Kerr and her partner Kristie Mewis were returning from a night out in a cab when the former started feeling sick and put her head out a window to throw up. However, per Kerr, the driver rolled up the window while her head was resting on the window frame. Things got from bad to worse when the cabbie asked them to compensate for the mess that they had made, and the couple refused. 

The cabbie allegedly locked the doors and started driving in an erratic fashion. The couple said that they were thrown into a state of panic, and they tried everything to get out of the car until Mewis smashed a window with her feet. Meanwhile, the driver drove the cab to Twickenham police station, where Kerr called a police constable “stupid and white.”

The whole incident ended up being dragged to court, putting the couple in hot water. And it was just last month the trial ended as she was proven not guilty by the jury. While the star striker apologized for her choice of words, she denied any intentions of harm or insult.  

After the whole saga ended, Kerr shared a heartfelt note, stating, “I can finally put this challenging period behind me.” While she had apologized for her actions at the time, a formal admission of guilt was still required under the Matildas’ watch. Even so, her return to the national team would take time!

Sam Kerr makes Matildas return in a ‘Non-playing capacity’

This is because the former Chicago Red Stars forward is still not ready to play. To recall, Sam sustained an ACL tear during training camp with Chelsea in January last year. Since then, she has yet to make a return on the pitch. As the Matildas gear up for their upcoming doubleheader clashes against South Korea on April 4 and April 7, she was still called up to reunite with her national teammates. However, don’t anticipate her taking the field just yet.

With Chelsea’s approval, Kerr has joined the ongoing training camp as part of her return-to-play program. This means she’ll only focus on her rehabilitation. Well, this is the least that the Matildas could do, beyond also accepting her apology. “Setting aside those difficulties, this one incident should not offset the incredible contributions she has made, both publicly and privately, on and off the field – for more than 15 years,” said Football Australia Chairman Anter Isaac.

While expressing his anticipation to see the return of the Australian skipper, Chair of the Football Development Committee and Football Australia Board Member Heather Garriock also mentioned the crucial step the board has taken in light of the events surrounding Kerr. The board is polishing its guidelines “to reinforce accountability, address potential reputational risks, and explore policy enhancements that will help prevent similar incidents and support everyone involved in the future.”

Regardless, it’s good to see Sam Kerr back to the Matildas!