Article body analysed
By MELISSA WOODS FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: 09: 16 AEDT, 31 March 2025 | Updated: 10: 02 AEDT, 31 March 2025 67 View comments Sam Kerr has avoided being stripped of the Matildas' captaincy after meeting with the Football Australia board, with the super striker finally joining the Australian women's team in camp. The parties met to address Kerr's recent UK court case, where she was found not guilty on one charge of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer. Kerr, who hasn't played since tearing her ACL during a Chelsea training camp in January last year, spoke of her 'regret' for the incident with the FA board concluding that it warranted no further action. 'I want to express my sincere regret for how events unfolded, ' Kerr said in an FA statement. 'It was an incredibly difficult period for me, my family, my club, my teammates, and especially for the fans whose support means so much to us. 'I recognise that leadership means being mindful of our actions both on and off the pitch. Kerr (pictured after scoring against England in the World Cup) has been cleared to return as captain of the Matildas after her 'incredibly difficult' trial in London The superstar Chelsea striker has now joined the Matildas training camp despite still not being back to full fitness as she recovers from a serious knee injury 'I'm proud of the Matildas, the role I have played as a member of that team, and everything we stand for, and I'm committed to learning from this experience. ' Football Australia chairman Anter Isaac said the incident shouldn't overshadow's Kerr's contribution to the game. 'Knowing how Sam (Kerr) feels about the events, along with the additional context we've learned, has added vital perspective that the general public may not be aware of, ' said Isaac. 'Setting aside those difficulties, this one incident should not offset the incredible contributions she has made, both publicly and privately, on and off the field – for more than 15 years. ' As part of her return-to-play program, Kerr has now joined the Matildas training camp for the March/April FIFA women's international window, which runs from March 31 to April 8. Granted leave by Chelsea, she will continue her rehabilitation under the supervision of the Matildas' performance support team. Kerr has not yet been cleared for competitive football although the Matildas will be hopeful she's available to face Argentina in Melbourne on May 30 and Canberra on June 2.
Share what you think
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mail Online.
By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your Mail Online comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to Mail Online as usual. Do you want to automatically post your Mail Online comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to Mail Online as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on Mail Online. To do this we will link your Mail Online account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy. Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group