Matlidas captain Sam Kerr has been subjected to homophobic abuse after announcing she is having a baby with her fiancee Kristie Mewis.

The 31-year-old superstar revealed the news on her Instagram account late on Monday (Australian time) with a post that read: “Mewis-Kerr baby coming 2025!”

Her announcement came with a picture of the couple kissing and showing off Mewis’ baby bump.

But, while the post was met with joy by fellow Matildas such as Mary Fowler and Mackenzie Arnold – who were among many to post their congratulations – there was also abuse, leading the couple to turn off comments.

The Sky Sports Women’s Super League account reportedly also tuned off comments to a post viewed five million times.

Extremely disappointing to see even the slightest negative reaction to Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis’s fantastic news.

Couple are free to do what they choose, and you can be a good parent whatever your gender, creed, colour or anything.

We are in 2024 folks!

— Tom Overend (@tovers98) November 18, 2024

The abuse was condemned by Chelsea Pride, an LGBTQ+ supporter group affiliated with the men’s English Premier League and Women’s Super League club for whom Kerr plays.

“Homophobia has no place in football, at Chelsea, or in our society,” said in a statement posted on X.

“It’s heartbreaking and infuriating to see social media flooded with hateful comments when we should be celebrating love, pride and unity.

“Over the weekend and today, our club was forced to shut down comments and even delete posts, posts that should have been shining moments of joy, from the powerful symbolism of Rainbow Laces to the incredible news that Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis will welcome a child in 2025.

“‘No to Hate’ isn’t just a slogan; it’s a battle cry. It’s a reminder that we must keep fighting for what is right, for true acceptance, and for a game that embraces everyone without exception.”

Chelsea Pride statement.#NoToHate 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ pic.twitter.com/j46SIhFtlq

— Chelsea Pride 🏳️‍🌈⚽️🏳️‍⚧️ (@ChelseaPride_) November 18, 2024

The Matildas captain has been sidelined since tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in January, an injury that ruled her out of the Olympics.

The Matildas struggled in Paris in her absence on the way to bombing out in the group stage.

No timeline has been set for Kerr’s return, with the 31-year-old recently expressing her conservative approach to her rehabilitation.

“I mean, it’s my second ACL, so I know you need to take the time, you need to make sure it’s right and I’m doing everything I can,” Kerr told Optus Sport in September.

“But there’s definitely no rush for me. I want to make sure I can play for many more years to come.”

Kerr also faces an appearance in court early next year on a charge of racially harassing a London police officer.

She was arrested on January 30, 2023, and charged with using insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress to the constable during the incident at Twickenham, south-west London.

She had been out celebrating Chelsea’s FA Cup victory over Liverpool with friends.

Kerr, who was not charged until January 21 this year, is accused of calling the officer a “stupid white b-stard”. Her lawyers dispute she used the expletive.

Kerr pleaded not guilty at a hearing on March 4. Her case will next be heard in February.

She met US midfielder Mewis, who plays for WSL rival West Ham United, in 2020. They have been a couple since 2021 and became engaged two years later.

-with AAP