Chelsea striker Sam Kerr has apologised “for expressing myself poorly on what was a traumatic evening” after being found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment for calling a Metropolitan Police officer “stupid and white”.

The Australian international made the comments to Pc Stephen Lovell during an incident in south-west London in the early hours of January 30 2023.

Ms Kerr, 31, and her partner, West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis, had been out drinking when they were driven to Twickenham Police Station by a taxi driver who complained that they had refused to pay clean-up costs after one of them was sick and that one of them had smashed the vehicle’s rear window.

At the police station, Ms Kerr became “abusive and insulting” towards Pc Lovell, calling him “f****** stupid and white”.

Chelsea and Australia striker Sam Kerr leaving Kingston Crown Court (Haixin Tan/PA)

PA Wire

A jury returned the not guilty verdict on Tuesday after deliberating for around four hours and 17 minutes at Kingston Crown Court since the previous day.

On Tuesday evening, Ms Kerr issued a statement which read: “Following today’s not guilty verdict, I can finally put this challenging period behind me.

“While I apologise for expressing myself poorly on what was a traumatic evening, I have always maintained that I did not intend to insult or harm anyone and I am thankful that the jury unanimously agreed.