Last year, we posted several times about longtime U.S. women’s soccer player Megan Rapinoe, who began kneeling for the National Anthem prior to games, in a protest inspired by NFL player Colin Kaepernick. First she knelt prior to club games, then she did so prior to National tea games.

U.S. Soccer, which runs the National team, condemned the protest at the time. And now, they have passed a rule banning it altogether.

Per The New York Times and Fox Soccer analyst Stuart Holden, U.S. Soccer now has a rule on the books which states: “All persons representing a Federation national team shall stand respectfully during the playing of the national anthems at any event in which the Federation is represented.”

New Policy added to @ussoccer bylaws: Players “shall stand respectfully during playing of national anthem @ which federation is represented” pic.twitter.com/fkVtCI1iHC — Stuart Holden (@stuholden) March 4, 2017

After Rapinoe’s protest last September, U.S. Soccer released to statement to ESPN:

Statement from U.S. Soccer on ESPN2 broadcast. pic.twitter.com/4n9LfFcBHM — John D. Halloran (@JohnDHalloran) September 16, 2016

Per an Associated Press report, Rapinoe intends to follow the new rule. Rapinoe’s agent issued a statement on Monday:

It is an honor to represent the USA and all that we stand for — to be able to pull on the red, white and blue to play a game that I love. I will respect the new bylaw the leadership at USSF has put forward. That said, I believe we should always value the use of our voice and platform to fight for equality of every kind.

[image via Esfera – Shutterstock.com]

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