The Matildas and Chelsea forward Sam Kerr’s trial on charges of racially aggravated harassment is set to take place in 2025 after a further hearing on her case was cancelled. Kerr is facing charges of intentionally causing “racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress to a police officer” after a night out with teammates in London in January 2023. Kerr denies the charges.

A preliminary hearing on the case, due to be held on Monday at Kingston Crown Court, was cancelled and the trial is now scheduled to last four days next February.

The 30-year-old did not play in the second half of the Women’s Super League season, due to a badly ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury. But she joined Chelsea’s celebrations as her team won the championship for a fifth successive year with a 6-0 win over Manchester United on Saturday.

The injury meant she missed Australia’s AFC Women’s Olympic qualifiers series against Uzbekistan in February and will keep her sidelined for the friendlies against China on 31 May in Adelaide, and 3 June in Sydney.

With no timeframe for Kerr’s return to football, doubts were growing she would contest the 2026 Asian Cup to which Australia was awarded hosting rights last week.