Sam Kerr is not guilty?

I did not follow the story with any great interest. I really am not interested in high paid sports people, especially anyone who abuses their position or comments on matters not related to whatever game they play. But, this story was impossible to miss.

I will also be quite blunt here and say that I believe Kerr has played the race card - and won. She has played the sex card - and won. She has played the lesbian card - and won.  What is more she chose to go out and drink alcohol, drink it to excess and become drunk. Why should she be relieved of any responsibility for the decision to do that and the consequences?

I think there is a much bigger problem here than people have been daring to say. You see Kerr is a sportsperson, the captain of a team. She has an even bigger responsibility to the other members of her team because she is supposed to be a leader. She is there not just to lead but to set an example. How can she do that if she behaves so badly? Yes, it was bad behaviour. It was unacceptable. It was wrong. An apology is not enough here. 

Kerr is also supposed to be, like it or not, a role model for young ones. She is supposed to be a role model for those who might like to take up the sport or might be encouraged to take up the sport. She might even have been held up as a role model for those who want to take up another sport.  It might not be what she wants but it goes with the territory. It is part of her job.

I suspect the jury was afraid to find her guilty, afraid of the backlash it would cause. The verdict makes it very clear that playing the race and/or the sex card can tilt the verdict card.  

Something can be done and it needs to be done. Kerr must lose the captaincy of the team. She must no longer be seen as the leader of it because she is not a leader.