“We are trying to get to the bottom of it at the moment. We have got our own questions that we’d like to know,we have got to find out what actually happened. But we also want to say that there is a process that is under way in the United Kingdom,and that process needs to run its course.”

Chelsea,Kerr’s club team in the English FA Women’s Super League,has been contacted for comment. It is unclear if the club,like FA,was also unaware the superstar striker was in trouble with the police.

Kerr’s Australian-based manager,Niki White,declined to comment when asked why FA were not told sooner.

Gustavsson,who was speaking at a separate event in Sydney,said he had not yet spoken to Kerr.

“The first time I ever heard about it was this morning,” he said. “Obviously[I] was surprised. I can’t comment on the offence because it’s a legal matter at this point. 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 from that.”

Johnson said FA was still trying to establish the facts of what occurred on January 30,2023 – the dayafter Kerr scored a hat-trickagainst Liverpool in the FA Cup.

“Of course,it’s very serious allegations,it regards racism,and there’s no place for racism in our sport,” he said.

“At the same time,Sam has rights,natural justice rights,procedural rights,that she has got to work her way through,and we are respectful of that. We have got to get some answers before we have a view on what should be done as a next step ... until that time,we can’t really say anything further.

“We need to allow the process to play out;I think that is important. Sam has rights as an individual;she has pleaded not guilty,and I think we need to remember that,and we need to respect that.”

Gustavsson did not directly answer questions about whether Kerr should remain as captain of the national team. Steph Catley has been leading the Matildas in her absence,while Ellie Carpenter and Emily van Egmond were elevated as vice captains once it became apparent Kerr’s injury would likely rule her out of the Olympics.

But he did say he was confident the situation would not affect the team as it prepares for Paris.

“If you look at the attention that this team has gotten over the last little bit less than a year ... the team itself knows the core values of who they are,on and off the field. They know what they stand for,” Gustavsson said.

“But also,as a football team,they know what they stand for on the field. They’ve shown in the past that when there’s been things around them that could potentially disturb the team,they have been very good at focusing on their ‘why’,and what they stand for and how they want to play football. And so,in that sense,I think the team is going to be very professional this time around as well.”

Kerr appeared in Kingston Crown Court via video link on Monday 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.

British authorities have cracked down on crimes that 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.

Under Section 4 or 4a of the Public Order Act 1986,under which she was charged,the racially or religiously aggravated version of an offence can attract a maximum penalty on summary conviction,which is six months imprisonment or an unlimited fine or both.

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