Current and former Chelsea players describe the Matildas star as ‘selfless’ and ‘generous’ in witness statements to harassment trial

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Current and former Chelsea players, including Millie Bright and Carly Telford, and the team’s former manager, Emma Hayes, have come to Sam Kerr’s defence in court, describing her as “selfless” and a “truly special human”.

Kerr, 31, the captain of the Australian women’s football team and Chelsea’s star striker, is on trial at Kingston crown court accused of racially aggravated harassment after calling a police officer “fucking stupid and white” when he doubted her claim of being “held hostage” by a taxi driver. She denies the charges.