Discrimination remains rampant in women’s soccer
Australian soccer star Sam Kerr’s trial shows how reverse racism is often used to downplay real discrimination
Sam Kerr's trial reignited the debate about reverse racism in sports. (LittleBlinky/Wikimedia Commons)
Australian soccer star Sam Kerr was recently found not guilty of “racially aggravated harassment” after calling a British police officer “stupid and white.”
A conviction could have cost her career, but the trial reignited a debate — can white people experience reverse racism?
The short answer is no. Racism is about power, not just prejudice. The Australian Human Rights Commission defines it as a system where policies and actions create inequities based on race.
In countries like Australia and the U.K., where white people control institutions, the idea of “reverse racism” doesn’t hold up. White individuals can face bias, but racism requires systemic oppression.
Kerr’s comment was offensive, but calling it racist misconstrues the term. False claims of reverse racism are often used to downplay real discrimination, which remains rampant in women’s soccer.
Recently, Jamaican soccer player Khadija “Bunny” Shaw suffered online racist abuse after a Women’s Super League match, forcing her to miss a semi-final due to the mental toll.
Shaw’s case is part of a broader crisis. Kick It Out, English football’s anti-discrimination organization, reported a 32-per-cent increase in discrimination cases last season, with racism being the most frequent.
Meanwhile, the disparity in Kerr’s case is glaring. She and her partner, Kristie Mewis, were both arrested after a dispute with a cab driver, but only Kerr — a woman of colour — was charged, despite Mewis breaking a car window. The officer in question initially omitted Kerr’s alleged comment from his report, only mentioning it 11 months later.
This double standard is part of a larger pattern in women’s sports, where female athletes of colour face heightened scrutiny. Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer, endured abuse and false gender accusations after matches, echoing the treatment of South African runner Caster Semenya, Indian athlete Dutee Chand, and American basketball player Brittney Griner, who have all faced racialized and gendered policing.
Even global icons like Serena Williams have been subject to racist and sexist attacks, with conspiracy theories questioning her gender. In an article published by The Associated Press, medical anthropologist Danyal Kade Doyle Griffiths said that while male athletes like Michael Phelps, who have biological advantages, are celebrated, women of colour are disproportionately targeted for scrutiny.
For Kerr, the focus now shifts to her comeback. After a year-long ACL injury, she faces competition at her Chelsea FC Women’s team with new signings like Mayra Ramirez, Lucy Bronze, Naomi Girma, and Keira Walsh.
Meanwhile, racism in women’s soccer persists. In an article published by BBC News, Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor stressed that social media platforms must be held accountable, especially with the 2023 Online Safety Act set to enforce stricter regulations on tech companies.
With the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup ahead, Kerr has a chance to move past this ordeal. The best way? Let her football do the talking.
