Chelsea and Australia footballer Sam Kerr is set to stand trial next year for alleged racially aggravated harassment of a police officer in London.

The striker appeared in court earlier after being charged with using insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress to a police officer during an incident in Twickenham, southwest London on 30 January.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the incident involved an officer who was responding to a complaint about a taxi fare.

Ms Kerr, 30, attended the hearing at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court via videolink and pleaded not guilty.

A four-day trial is now expected to take place next February.

Ms Kerr has captained the Australia women’s national team since 2019 and scored their only goal in last year’s World Cup semi-final against England.

She is Australia’s all-time leading scorer with 69 goals and joined Chelsea in 2020.

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The striker has helped the London club win the last four Women’s Super League titles as well as the FA Cup three times.

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She is two months into a lengthy period on the sidelines after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the Blues’ warm-weather training camp in Morocco.

Sky News has contacted Chelsea FC for comment.

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