US Soccer unveiled a new policy Saturday requiring players to 'stand respectfully' during national anthems.

The move comes six months after Megan Rapinoe kneeled during the US National Anthem before the Thailand match on September 15 in protest of social inequality.

Rapinoe said she was protesting in solidarity with NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who controversially knelt during the national anthem as a form of protest over social and racial injustice.

Megan Rapinoe, a veteran midfielder, kneeled during the US anthem before the Thailand match on September 15 in protest of social inequality

US Soccer's new policy requires players to 'stand respectfully' during national anthems

Rapinoe, 31, kneels during the playing of the US National Anthem before the Thailand match

Rapinoe started kneeling in September in solidarity with NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7), who knelt during the national anthem as a form of protest over social and racial injustice

Rapinoe was part of the 2015 US World Cup winning team, but was left off this year's roster

The 31-year-old veteran midfielder had also kneeled during the US anthem with her club team, the Seattle Reign of the National Women's Soccer League.

She was denied another chance to do so when the Washington Spirit played the anthem before either team had taken the field for the match.

Rapinoe 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.'

A spokesperson for the US Women’s National Team issued this statement to Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl in response to the federation's new bylaw

On The Players' Tribune, Rapinoe commented in an October essay on those who think her gesture is unpatriotic:

'I can understand if you think that I’m disrespecting the flag by kneeling, but it is because of my utmost respect for the flag and the promise it represents that I have chosen to demonstrate in this way.

'When I take a knee, I am facing the flag with my full body, staring straight into the heart of our country’s ultimate symbol of freedom - because I believe it is my responsibility, just as it is yours, to ensure that freedom is afforded to everyone in this country.'

US Soccer president Sunil Gulati said there are no preset consequences of violating the policy

The policy, reported by Fox Sports and ESPN, was approved on February 9 by US Soccer's board of directors and revealed at the US Soccer Federation annual general meeting in Hawaii.

'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,' the policy reads.

Fox Sports reported that US Soccer president Sunil Gulati declared the measure had been 'unanimously approved' and any punishments for a violation of the policy would be made on a case-by-case basis.

Jill Ellis, US Women's National Team head coach, said she agreed with the policy.

'I’ve always felt that that should be what we do to honor the country and have the pride of putting on a national team jersey,' said Ellis.

'I said that previously, I think that should be the expectation. That’s our workplace out there and we should represent ourselves and our country.'

Rapinoe was part of the 2015 US World Cup winning team, but was left off this year's roster.