Sam Kerr is caught making dangerous move as the Matildas get rocked by a trible blow just before crunch match

Matildas captain Sam Kerr has been pictured riding a Lime Bike in Sydney without a helmet. 

The 31-year-old donned a black hoodie and cotton gilet but was not seen wearing a helmet as she peddled the e-bike. 

Instead, the Chelsea striker was seen with her hoodie pulled over her head, while a helmet was visibly sitting in the basket of the lime bike. 

According to the NSW Wales Government’s rules on riding bicycles, cyclists ‘are required by law to wear an approved bicycle helmet, securely fitted and fastened, on your head.’ 

Lime also strongly advises riders to wear a helmet according to the government’s regulations. 

‘By law, you must use a helmet, either your personal one or an attached Lime helmet. If you find a vehicle without a helmet and don’t have your own with you, we recommend using the app to find another vehicle nearby,’ the e-bike sharing company writes on their website. 

Matildas star Sam Kerr was pictured riding a Lime Bike without a helmet on Wednesday 

The 31-year-old has returned to Australia ahead of the Matildas’ upcoming fixtures with South Korea 

The Matildas captain is still recovering from an ACL injury and is not expected to play this weekend as she continues her rehabilitation

It came as Kerr was seen on Wednesday out shopping in Sydney with several family members. 

She was seen wearing a T-shirt that read ‘Everyone Watches Women’s Sports’. The T-shirt is designed by the brand Togethxr and hits back at those individuals who have dismissed women’s sport. 

It came after former Triple M radio presenter Marty Sheargold was dumped by the station for offensive comment’s he made about Australia’s Women’s football team. 

Sheargold said, live on air, that the Matildas players reminded him of ‘year 10 girls’. He also said he ‘would rather hammer a nail through the head of his penis’ than watch the team in next year’s Asian Cup.

The comments were labelled misogynistic and disrespectful.

Kerr has not played for Chelsea or the Matildas in over a year, after she suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury back in January 2024. 

She has returned to participate in this week’s training camp with the Matildas in a non-playing capacity. 

It comes as Football Australia stated that they would be taking ‘no further action’ against Kerr, after she was found not guilty of the racially aggravated harassment of a British police officer in February. 

Kerr has been spotted training with her side this week. The Chelsea star is set to also retain the captain’s armband 

Doubts had been cast over whether Kerr (pictured with Matildas interim boss Tom Sermanni, right) would retain the captain’s armband after she was found not guilty of the racially aggravated harassment of a British police officer 

But the Chelsea striker received a hero’s welcome this week, upon her return to Australia 

Doubts had been cast that Kerr could be stripped of the Matildas’ captaincy but it seems she will now continue in the role. 

‘Knowing how Sam feels about the events, along with the additional context we’ve learned, has added vital perspective that the general public may not be aware of,”‘Football Australia chairman Anter Isaac said.

‘Setting aside those difficulties, this one incident should not offset the incredible contributions she has made, both publicly and privately, on and off the field for more than 15 years.’

The footballer had apologised for the incident and said: ‘I recognise that leadership means being mindful of our actions both on and off the pitch.

‘I’m proud of the Matildas, the role I have played as a member of that team and everything we stand for, and I’m committed to learning from this experience. 

‘Moving forward, I’m focused on doing my part to ensure we grow even stronger together, and I look forward to having the opportunity of re-joining the team once I’m fit and ready.’

Matildas coach Tom Sermanni admits he is doubtful No 1 goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold will be fit to play in their first friendly against South Korea as questions loom over his new replacement.

Arnold will undergo scans ahead of Friday night’s match at Allianz Stadium after injuring her arm during training.

It comes as the Matildas icon (right) and her fiancee, Kristie Mewis (left) are expecting a baby boy this year 

Sermanni, meanwhile, has been struck with a triple injury blow ahead of this week’s fixtures

Sermanni is doubtful over goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold’s (pictured) fitness, ahead of Friday’s clash

The Matildas are already without Ellie Carpenter (ankle) and Hayley Raso (thigh), the star duo ruled out earlier on Thursday after picking up injuries with their respective clubs.

Sermanni says Arnold had suffered the injury after a routine movement during training earlier in the week.

‘She’s doubtful (for Friday). That would be my best description,’ Sermanni said.

‘I was actually watching it at the time and it was just a standard, average, straightforward dive.

‘And suddenly she’s done some damage to either a tricep or her shoulder.’

It is unclear yet whether Arnold will be able to play in Monday’s match at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium.

Sermanni added Lyon defender Carpenter and Tottenham star Raso both entered camps with their respective injuries hopeful they would be fit in time for the two friendlies.

‘Ellie came in with an ankle that we knew had some issues,’ Sermanni said.

Ellie Carpenter (left) has been ruled out with an ankle injury she sustained while playing for Lyon (Kerr pictured right)

Hayley Raso (pictured) has also been ruled out of Friday’s match, after injuring her thigh during a training session with her club side, Tottenham

‘We were really confident with the information that we got, that her ankle would come in and settle down. 

‘Unfortunately, when you’re travelling halfway around the world sometimes and you come in, that ankle just hasn’t settled down, and it’s just not worth the risk.

‘She’s got important games coming up in the Champions League.

‘And with Hayley, it was something that she did in the final training session at Tottenham.

‘She didn’t feel it was too bad, and thought, ‘I’ll come in and it will be okay’, but as I say, once we got the MRI we found it’s not and we just can’t take the risk.’

Canberra United goalkeeper Sally James has been called up to replace Arnold, while fellow A-League players Alexia Apostolakis and Tegan Bertolissio fill in for Raso and Carpenter.

The Matildas are also without Katrina Gorry (ankle) and captain Kerr (knee).

The injuries come as speculation swirls around the appointment of a full-time Matildas coach.

Carpenter’s club coach Joe Montemurro has emerged as the frontrunner to take over Sermanni as Australia’s new permantent manager

Carpenter’s club coach Joe Montemurro has emerged as the frontrunner for the job, a role that has been vacant since Tony Gustavsson left his post after the Paris Games in August.

Former Arsenal and Juventus coach Montemurro had seemingly landed the perfect audition for the Matildas spot after being chosen to lead the A-League Women All Stars in an exhibition match against Arsenal in April last year.

The Melbourne product, who also coached Melbourne Victory and City, had thrown his hat in the ring to become the Matildas coach before moving to Juventus in 2021.

But Montemurro instead signed on with women’s football powerhouse Lyon, six weeks before Gustavsson walked away from the Matildas.

Sermanni played a straight bat when asked about Montemurro succeeding him.

‘That’s somebody else’s decision to decide who’s going to replace me,’ Sermanni said. 

‘Joe’s an outstanding coach … You just look at his CV and he’s an Aussie, so he’s got great credentials for the job.’But whatever way the decision that the FA are going, that’s a decision that I’ll fully support.’

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk