'Delightful' Chelsea and Australia star Sam Kerr defended by Australia Prime Minister after racially aggravated harassment charge

The Chelsea star pleaded not guilty this week after being charged with"using insulting, threatening or abusive statements that caused alarm or distress" to a police officer in January 2023. While the 30-year-old's lawyers are trying to have the charge, which stemmed from an alleged dispute over a taxi fare, thrown out of court - Mr Albanese has come to her defence. Although he would not comment on the case, he lauded the Australian international for her "proud" representation of her country after meeting the striker at King Charles' coronation last year.

He said on Wednesday: "I don't comment on legal matters before Australian courts, let alone other ones. I will say this about my contact with Sam Kerr, she was our flag bearer at the coronation. My contact with her was exemplary. She did Australia proud at that time and I think that my contact with her has been nothing but delightful."

Kerr's legal team will return to court on April 26 with the aim of avoiding the criminal trial that is set for next February. They have claimed an "abuse of process" in the prosecution's case, given that it took 13 months for this to come to court. If Kerr's appeal is unsuccessful and then is found guilty, the public order act she has been charged with carries a prison sentence of up to two years and/or a substantial fine.

Blues forward Kerr, who is currently sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament problem that will rule her out until next season, will wait to see what result comes from the legal process.