Sam Kerr has resumed training with Chelsea’s first-team squad as she nears a return from a year-long injury absence. Her club coach, Sonia Bompastor, acknowledged the personal toll of her recent trial and confirmed that the Australian striker would not face disciplinary action over the incident.
Kerr shared images on Instagram of herself training alongside teammates, opting for a simple smiling emoji as the caption. Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Women’s Super League match against Everton, Bompastor assured reporters that the club considered the matter closed.
“She made a statement, she was clear in her statement, and I think that’s enough,” Bompastor said. “What she was facing last week was hard enough for her, so the only thing we want to do as a club is support her.”
The Australian international was found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment after an incident involving a police officer in early 2023. During a drunken exchange, body-cam footage captured Kerr using offensive language, which she later apologized for. While Football Australia stated it would “reflect with Sam on learnings” from the incident, it has not yet confirmed whether she will retain the national team captaincy.
Kerr’s return to the Matildas will depend on her recovery with Chelsea, but there remains uncertainty about when she will be match-fit. Bompastor acknowledged the difficulty in providing a precise timeline, as Kerr is not yet fully training with the squad.
“It’s difficult to give a really precise timeframe for Sam, but we’re really happy to have her back on the pitch with us, with the team,” Bompastor said. “She’s progressing with rehab and going in the right direction.”
Since taking over at Chelsea last year, Bompastor has remained in close contact with Kerr and supported her throughout the legal process. She noted that the striker maintained a strong mindset during the six-day trial and after receiving the not guilty verdict.
“We are probably, with her family, the ones who know her the most, and it was difficult to see her in that situation,” Bompastor said. “It’s maybe one moment in her life where something happened, and if she has to reflect on that, she’d probably think, ‘I don’t want to go through that again.’ But it happens in life, and now she needs to be forgiven for that and move forward.”
Despite Kerr’s absence, Chelsea remains unbeaten in the WSL this season. However, Bompastor emphasized that the two-time golden boot winner remains a key part of the squad.
“When you know Sam, she’s really a shy person, and she just wants to live a normal life,” Bompastor explained. “She doesn’t like to be in the spotlight. This type of week was something big for her.”
Kerr is not part of the Matildas squad for the upcoming SheBelieves Cup in the United States but could return for Australia’s friendlies against South Korea in Sydney and Newcastle in April.
