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Matildas captain Sam Kerr has been charged over alleged racially aggravated harassment of a police officer in London early last year.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said Kerr was given a court summons on January 21.
"The charge relates to an incident involving a police officer who was responding to a complaint involving a taxi fare on January 30, 2023 in Twickenham," the spokesperson said.
Kerr appeared in court in London on Monday, where British media is reporting she pleaded not guilty, and is set to face a trial in February 2025.
The 30-year-old is among the biggest names in Australian sport, and overcame a calf injury to dazzle at last year's World Cup.
She plays for Chelsea in England's Women's Super League, but is sidelined with a knee injury.
Kerr's Australian-based manager Niki White declined to comment.
The Perth-born striker has scored 58 goals for Chelsea in the WSL where she's played since 2020 after stints in Australia and the US.
She's found the back of the net 69 times in 128 games for the Matildas.
In a statement, the sport's governing body Football Australia (FA) said it was aware of the legal proceedings.
"As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to provide further comment at this time. Our focus remains on supporting all our players, both on and off the field. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide support as appropriate."
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said he would support Kerr and the wider team.
"I think FA was very clear on that as well, in terms of supporting our players on and off the field … and I understand why there's a lot of questions about it, but of course as a human being I will always support," Mr Gustavsson said.
The coach also said he did not think the situation would affect the wider squad ahead of the Paris Olympics in July and August this year.
FA not informed of charges, boss says
FA chief executive James Johnson said Kerr did not inform the organisation of the charge.
"I woke up this morning like everyone else did to the news," Mr Johnson said.
"And that is when Football Australia found out about this unsettling event. We are trying to get to the bottom of it at the moment.
"We have got our own questions that we'd like to know, we have got to find out what actually happened.
"But we also want to say that there is a process that is underway in the United Kingdom and that process needs to run its course."
Kerr a decorated Australian player
Kerr has been the captain of the Matildas since 2019.
She has won the Golden Boot award in three different continents — the W-League in Australia and New Zealand, the NWSL in North America and the Women's Super League in Europe.
In January 2022, Kerr outranked Tim Cahill to become the highest-scoring player for Australia.
Western Australia's $50.8 million State Football Centre was officially renamed the Sam Kerr Football Centre last October to honour her success and legacy in the football world.
Kerr has been sidelined by an ACL injury since January. Her father Roger Kerr said on Friday she was "definitely" out of the Paris Olympics, which the Matildas qualified for in a 10-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan in Melbourne last week.
ABC/AAP