A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police later said the charge related to an incident involving an officer who was responding to a complaint involving a taxi fare. They said Kerr was charged on January 21 with a racially aggravated offence under Section 4A Public Order Act 1986.
The Matildas star,whocarried the Australian flag at the coronation of King Charles in Westminster Abbey,wore a white T-shirt under a black suit jacket as she appeared at Kingston Crown Court via videolink and spoke only to confirm her identity and to enter a not guilty plea to the charge.
She is expected to go to trial at Wimbledon Magistrates Court in February next year when two police officers are scheduled to give evidence. The trial is due to last four days.
Judge Judith Elaine Coello reportedly said the footballer’s defence would be that her intention was not to upset the police officer.
“I understand that the defence is that she didn’t intend to cause alarm,harassment or distress to the officer,[her behaviour] did not amount to it and it was not racially aggravated,” the paper quoted the judge saying to Kerr’s barrister,Grace Forbes.
British authorities have cracked down on crimes which they allege are racially or religiously motivated over the past decade,with those convicted of similar-level charges in some recent cases having been sent to prison.