It is the allegation that has divided the internet and it’s about to come to a head as Sam Kerr prepares to break her silence on the matter.
Kerr’s English club Chelsea says the Matildas captain has their full support and called it a “difficult time” for the superstar striker.
But Football Australia is still frustrated that Kerr did not inform people about the criminal charge that happened during a dispute over a taxi fare in Twickenham on January 30 last year.
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The question remains for many, however, should the alleged slur of “stupid white b***ard” — which Kerr is set to deny — be considered racist.
NSW premier Chris Minns has a simple answer.
And that is a very plain: “No.”
And NSW health minister Ryan Park revealed that he had “been called a lot worse”.
Former Socceroos great Robbie Slater agreed.
“Without trivialising what she might have said, it sounds like something silly might have happened, it’s a bizarre thing,” Slater said on Sky News.
“I think Sam might have had a few too many on one evening and probably said something stupid, but a four-day trial – I mean you’d walk into Downing Street Court and I think you’d be out within the hour for something like this.”
“You can’t trivialise racism, but like I said, I’ve been called a lot worse.”
Kerr’s lawyers are set to release a statement and they will dispute many of the details that were published British newspaper The Sun.
Of course, the main point of contention is over the use of the term “stupid white b***ard”.
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said the incident was “unsettling” and also called it “very serious”.
But the vibe out of London around her actions is a little different to home.
“The first thing I want to say is that Sam has our full support. She knows that,” said Chelsea Emma Hayes at a news conference in London.
“Yes, it’s a difficult time for her. Of course, I can’t comment (about the case). What I can say is that I know she’s pleaded not guilty, and I don’t want to do anything to jeopardise anything for Sam by speaking about it.
“And for that reason, I’m sure you can appreciate that’s all I’m going to say on the matter.
“But she has our full support and she knows that, and it’s really important I get that across. That’s something I really, really value.
“There’s difficult moments, tough times and that’s what my role is in this football club, it’s to make sure I look after our people, and I just want to be clear that Sam will be fully supported by me and everybody else at Chelsea.”
Kerr was charged on January 21, almost a year after the incident in London was alleged to have occurred. The 30-year-old pleaded not guilty via video link at Kingston Crown Court on Monday.
Kerr is currently recovering amid a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury during Chelsea’s warm-weather training camp in Morocco.