Former Socceroo Craig Foster has weighed in on whether Sam Kerr should be stripped of the Matildas captaincy after failing to tell the team about her harassment charge.
On Tuesday morning, Daily Mail exclusively revealed that the Matildas captain will face a criminal trial in February next year over the alleged incident.
The Chelsea striker appeared in court accused of using insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress to the officer in Twickenham, southwest London, on January 30 last year.
The new development has stunned Aussie sports fans, as well as the Matildas team – with coach Tony Gustavsson and Football Australia boss James Johnson revealing they had no idea about the charge before the news broke.
Craig Foster says there’s a good argument to take the Matildas captaincy away from Kerr
Kerr, Australia’s highest-profile sportswoman, faced a court in London on Monday charged with racially aggravated harassment of a police officer
The incident has sparked questions about what consequences Kerr should face, with several pundits insisting she should be stripped off the captaincy.
Speaking to Nine’s Today show on Wednesday, Foster believes there’s a very good case for making that move.
‘It’s definitely an open question,’ said Foster when asked if she should be stripped of the Matildas captaincy.
‘The fact that she is not eligible for selection at the moment means that that has been avoided. If she was available for selection, I think you’d have to answer that question.
‘And arguably, the answer would have to be yes.’
When pressed if he think Kerr will be stood down, Foster said the game should ‘definitely consider it’.
Foster said the game should ‘definitely consider’ taking the captaincy away from Kerr
‘This is a live issue right now. We are talking about racism, which is really serious.’
The shocking news has led to bemusement among fans and pundits, with former Seven broadcaster Jim Wilson weighing in on the story.
‘There’s a presumption of innocence until proven guilty, but the coverup is a disgrace by Sam Kerr,’ he tweeted.
‘If I was the boss @FootballAUS I’d be livid and reading her the riot act, end of story. Optics are appalling!’
