Australia's women's soccer captain Sam Kerr is on trial in London, accused of racially abusing a white police officer following an altercation with a taxi driver.

Kerr, 31, who plays for Chelsea in the Women's Super League, allegedly told officer Stephen Lovell: "You guys are fucking stupid and white." While she admits to making the statement, she pleads not guilty to a charge of racially aggravated harassment, with her attorney arguing that the comment aimed to address power dynamics and privilege rather than racial identification.

The incident took place on January 30, 2023, when Kerr and her partner, Kristie Mewis from West Ham United, had a confrontation with their London cab driver, who reported them for allegedly trying to break a window.

Instead of taking them to their intended destination, the taxi driver brought them to a police station.

Kerr stated she was ill during the ride, which she claims provoked the driver's hostility.

She then crawled through the cab's shattered rear window before entering the police station, where she reportedly made the comment regarding Lovell's ethnicity.

Kerr later voluntarily participated in a police interview, where she recognized that her comments could be viewed as racist, although she stressed that they were not meant to demean the officer.

During the trial, video footage of Kerr's interaction with police was shown, in which she made additional comments about the situation and threatened to involve Chelsea's legal team.

Lovell testified that Kerr's remarks made him feel diminished and distressed.

Kerr, who has been unable to play since suffering an injury in January 2024, is recognized as one of the most accomplished female strikers in soccer history, holding the record as Australia's leading scorer with 69 goals.

The trial, which commenced on Monday at Kingston Crown Court, is anticipated to wrap up this week, with Kerr's defense arguing that the comments were made within the framework of social commentary rather than racial hostility.