US football managers pass law ordering players to 'stand respectfully' during national anthem

Soccer player Megan Rapinoe kneeled during national anthem in protest of social inequality

The US Soccer Federation unveiled a new policy on Saturday which requires players to "stand respectfully' during national anthems.

Midfielder Megan Rapinoe kneeled during the US National Anthem before a match against Thailand in September in protest of social inequality.



Rapinoe said she was kneeling in solidarity with NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who had knelt during the national anthem as a quiet protest against social and racial injustice in the country. Many other athletes followed suit, including Rapinoe.

The soccer player explained her decision to kneel during the National Anthem to TIME in October. "I thought a lot about it, read a lot about it and just felt, How can I not kneel too?" said Rapinoe, who is openly gay.

"I know what it’s like to look at the flag and not have all your rights."

The new policy was passed by the board of directors in February and revealed by the US Federation during their AGM in Hawaii.

https://twitter.com/stuholden/status/838109929802063872

The bylaw states, “All persons representing a federation national team shall stand respectfully during the playing of national anthems at any event in which the federation is represented.”

There are currently no consequences for players failing to adopt the requirement and players who chose not top stand would be judged on a case-by-case basis.

 

This story originally appeared in The Huffington Post