Honestly now, have you ever seen a more polarising issue in Australian sport than whether or not Sam Kerr should resume the on-field captaincy of the Matildas?
From where I sit, high in my ivory tower of privileged whiteness, I can see seriously good and thoughtful people, not given – like me – to hyperbole, who hold diametrically opposite views, and are going to the mattresses to defend their position.
Up one end are those who say that since Kerr was found not guilty in a London court this week of racially aggravated harassment, of course she must retake the captaincy. They also insist that all the behaviour that went with it, the vomiting in the back of the cab, the refusal to pay for damage – “I’m not paying for some f—ing dodgy f—ing c—t’s window. He deserves it … No, I’m not paying for it. I will sit here until 4am) – can be ignored.
In the middle sit those many who agreed with your humble correspondent’s piece on Thursday, which noted it is not quite as simple as that, and factors in Kerr’s background indeed have to be taken into account. In the end, I wrote, I think Football Australia will “swallow their misgivings and ultimately restore Kerr to the on-field captaincy”.
The 278 comments beneath that piece were robustly in support, while the split in the Herald poll of 16,834 readers ran 54 per cent against Kerr regaining the captaincy.
Sam Kerr leaves Kingston Crown Court after being found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment.Credit: AP
Nevertheless, for my trouble, some of the less kind of the aforementioned supporters took the view on social media that any view expressed by a straight white male boofhead like me, who knows nothing about soccer to boot, was not welcome, and I should equally robustly get nicked until further notice – which will be some time, and they’ll let me know, but don’t hold my breath. And yet, as it turned out, the most condemnatory voice of all was a woman who is one of the most authoritative soccer commentators in the country: Lucy Zelic.
“She admitted in court that she felt hostility and that she was behaving in a hostile manner towards the police constable involved, to PC Lovell,” Zelic told Clinton Maynard on 2GB. “On the balance of that, as I have said, we have to really assess whether this is someone of good moral character that deserves to represent the country and also, not only that, factor in, well, is this also a suitable role model.”
Oh, but she was only warming up.
“If I were to show this to my five-year-old daughter, would I want her to walk away from that and for her to feel like that was an appropriate way to treat people, that this is OK and acceptable?” Zelic asked. “The way that she decided to brandish her bank account, the way that she was speaking to the police officer … you take all of these things into account and to me, this is not someone who qualifies as a national team captain of their country – particularly of such a beloved franchise, regardless of the verdict.
“Regardless of the verdict, for me, the fact that we were privy to this footage, the damage has already been done. Just think how this would have gone down if the situation was reversed, and she had instead been speaking to a police officer of colour and said, ‘You’re stupid and black’. Of course, we’d be having an entirely different conversation.”
And whose opinion counts in all this?
Sam Kerr was found not guilty, but should she return as captain of the Matildas?Credit: Edwina Pickles
That of the board of Football Australia, who Zelic was bitterly critical of for sitting on the fence so far, calling their leadership “weak” for not having made any declaration one way or another.
What will happen from here?
I reckon it’ll go like this. Because Football Australia is cognisant of the fact Kerr still enjoys great support within the team, and is indeed a great captain, they will give themselves and her some time while they assess just what her level of contrition is over her behaviour.
Steve Smith did far more damage to the national reputation by his actions in the ghastly sandpaper affair, but no one was ever in any doubt just how sorry he was. He made his way back. They won’t be asking Kerr for Smith’s level of apology, but they’ll be looking for maximum mea culpa, and if they get it, she’ll be skipper again.
In a perfect world, she’ll score wondrous goals once more, the Matildas will win and then we can all get on with our lives.
Jennifer Hermoso and Luis Rubiales on the podium in Sydney after the World Cup final.Credit: Reuters
Spain and suffering
Meantime, next week keep your eye out for the ABC’s mighty Foreign Correspondent program on Tuesday at 8pm. This week ABC Europe correspondent Kathryn Diss has done an in-depth story on Spain’s World Cup winning women’s football team, looking at the very culture that led to the current imbroglio. For the misogyny and mistreatment dates back decades.
The former president of Spain’s football federation, Luis Rubiales, is on trial facing charges of assault and coercion after kissing forward Jenni Hermoso following Spain’s win at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia.
One former coach, Ignacio Quereda (who held the position for 27 years) physically manhandled players on the sidelines (squeezing ears, cheeks and slapping the backs of heads) … and displayed the most controlling behaviour (spontaneous hotel room checks, forcing players to maintain eye contact during meals to make sure they weren’t gossiping about him, etc).
And that’s not including all the sexually inappropriate comments and homophobic slurs they endured. Even their most recent coach, Jorge Vilda, who took them to the 2023 World Cup, would check their bags after the women had free time and would control who they could sit next to or hang out with at night.
Former Spanish national coach Ignacio Quereda was known to grab players he wasn’t happy with.
Wales no dead certainties
Yes, this is an oldie but a goldie, reworked for the occasion. But I don’t care. I am told it is TRUE!
Welsh rugby halfback Gareth Edwards – regarded as arguably the greatest player to ever don the red jersey – was interviewed after Italy beat Wales 22-15 in last weekend’s Six Nations clash and asked if his team from the 1970s would have beaten the current Welsh team.
“Yes, but only just,” the great man replied.
Asked what he meant by “only just”, he explained that six of the team are now dead and the rest are all in their 70s.
Jordan Mailata after the Eagles’ victory in the Super Bowl.Credit: AP
WHAT THEY SAID
Sam Kerr after being found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment: “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. I am fully focused on getting back on to the pitch and look forward to an exciting year ahead for me and my family.”
Football Australia spokesperson: “Football Australia will reflect with Sam on learnings from this matter … We look forward to Sam’s return to the pitch and her continued contributions to both her club and the Matildas on the world stage.”
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes following the Kansas City Chiefs’ 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles: “Anytime you lose a Super Bowl, it’s the worst feeling in the world. It’ll stick with you the rest of your career. These will be the two losses that will motivate me to be even better for the rest of my career because you only get a few of these.”
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts on winning the Super Bowl after losing two years ago: “In the end, things come right on time. Last time around, it wasn’t our time, it wasn’t my time. Sometimes you have to wait your turn.”
Dana White on criticism of him and the UFC from this masthead: “For a place that is so tough, where everything on land and in the water can kill you, you have the biggest pussies in the media I’ve ever seen in my life.” By Gawd, I resemble that remark! But nah, Dana, the way we see things in this country, pussies start with those who slap their wives around. Like you.
Premier Minns on the UFC deal: “Part of the reason we brought UFC to Sydney is because of the huge boost it gives to the economy. Over half of the people who attended the first UFC event were from overseas or interstate. These people don’t just go to the fight, they make a weekend of it, staying in hotels and spending money in restaurants to have a good time.”
Sam Konstas on shaving his moustache: “Yeah, I was a bit bored in my room when I was sick. I had nothing else to do, so I got rid of the mo. It should grow back in a week or two …”
Warren Gatland after Wales’ Six Nations loss to Italy: “We shot ourselves in the foot. We made some wrong calls. Those are part of the learning process. I can understand people’s frustration, and we are frustrated and disappointed as well because we created opportunities, but we have made mistakes and the penalty count was disappointing.”
Former Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales in court in Madrid on whether star player Jenni Hermoso agreed to him kissing her following Spain’s 2023 Women’s World Cup victory: “I am absolutely sure that she gave me her permission … I asked her: ‘Can I give you a little kiss?’ She said: ‘All right.’ That’s what happened.”
Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens, asked in a post-match interview whether injuries had played a part in the loss, said: “I’m not going to make excuses, I’m not Ange Postecoglou.” He later profusely apologised, saying: “I am deeply embarrassed and regret what I said.”
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Matildas. In the States for the She Believes Cup, also featuring Japan, USA and Colombia.
Laura Peel, Danielle Scott and Abbey Willcox. Australian aerial skiers swept the World Cup podium at the Deer Valley Aerial World Cup with fellow Australian Airleigh Frigo – a wonderful name, surely born to be famous in aerial skiing – coming fourth.
Tyler Wright. The Australian surfer made history, becoming the first woman to win Hawaii’s iconic Pipe Pro event twice.
Cam Myers. The Australian teen, who is coming on strong like thunder, broke his own under-20 world record for the mile.
Jordan Mailata. Became the first Australian to win an NFL title in the Super Bowl.
NBL. Their finals series has just got under way. Does anyone know? Does anyone care? The comp has done very well in recent years to resuscitate itself and try to get back to the glory days of the 1990s, but there is clearly a way to go.
Ben Simmons. And speaking of basketball, has any Australian athlete in recent decades promised so much and delivered so little? He used to be simply wonderful to watch – so creative, so skilled, so original – and then it all seemed to just drift away. What happened?
Twitter: @Peter_Fitz
