England manager Sarina Wiegman has strongly criticised the homophobic abuse aimed at Chelsea star Sam Kerr following the announcement that she and her fiancée, Kristie Mewis, are expecting a baby.

The 31-year-old Australian captain shared the joyful news on Instagram on Monday with a post that read: “Mewis-Kerr baby coming 2025!” The post included a photo of the couple kissing and proudly displaying Mewis’ baby bump.

Kerr, who recently extended her Chelsea contract until 2026, is widely regarded as one of football’s brightest stars. Her impressive achievements include five consecutive Women’s Super League titles, three FA Cups, and two League Cups. However, she is currently sidelined with a serious knee injury.

Mewis, who has earned 53 caps for the United States, now plays for West Ham United, having joined the London club last year from Gotham FC.

West Ham United congratulated the couple on Instagram, stating: “A huge congratulations to Kristie and her partner Sam, who have announced they are expecting their first child.”

Despite the celebratory nature of the announcement, the couple has faced a wave of online abuse from homophobic trolls.

Speaking at a press conference after naming her squad for England’s upcoming matches against the United States and Switzerland, Wiegman expressed her disappointment:

“Unfortunately, that’s part of our world now, which it absolutely shouldn’t be. It’s very, very disappointing. I’m thrilled for them—congratulations to them both. They look so happy, and I hope everything goes well.”

Chelsea Pride, the official LGBTQ+ supporters’ group, also denounced the abusive comments, calling for stronger action against homophobia in football.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Chelsea Pride said:

“Homophobia has no place in football, at Chelsea, or in our society. 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 moments of joy, from the symbolism of Rainbow Laces to the wonderful news that Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis will welcome a child in 2025.

‘No to Hate’ isn’t just a slogan; it’s a call to action. We will not stand by in silence. At Chelsea Pride, we fight against every act of homophobia with unwavering strength and passion. We envision a football world where every player, fan, and family can live openly and be celebrated, without fear or prejudice.”

The statement underscores the ongoing battle to make football a sport where love and inclusion are celebrated without exception.