A veterans bar in Missouri has sparked outcry for turning two NFL jerseys into a doormat that reads “Lynch Kaepernick”.

Jason Burle, the owner of SNAFU bar in Lake Ozark, Missouri, said he made the doormat in response to recent protests by NFL players. Many players have started kneeling during the national anthem to protest the killing of black people by police officers.

But to Mr Burle, a US Air Force veteran, the protest is disrespectful to those who served.

“A lot of us military folks take that personal to heart," Mr Burle told local news station KOMU.

So the veteran claims he decided to order jerseys for two NFL players: Colin Kaepernick, who started the recent protests, and Marshawn Lynch, who has vocally defended him.

Mr Burle stuck the jerseys to the ground outside his bar with duct tape.

"It's not a race thing,” Mr Burle told KOMU, adding that the jersey placement was just “ the way they came out of the box”.

A 15 September Facebook photo from the bar, however, shows a lone Kaepernick jersey being used as a door mat.

"New door mat installed just in time for bikefest!" the Facebook post reads. "Come wipe your feet on your way in!"

Taylor Sloan, a resident of the neighbouring state of Kansas, noticed the newest version of the doormat over the weekend. He expressed his disdain in a post on the bar's Facebook page.

"You are also expressing hate, violence and continuing American racism under the faux guise of patriotism,” he wrote.

"There's a reason why the NAACP issued a travel warning for Missouri," he added. "...You lost my business the moment you decided to showcase this kind of behavior."

American sportspeople kneel in protest Show all 14 1 /14 American sportspeople kneel in protest American sportspeople kneel in protest Terrance Smith #48, Eric Fisher #72, Demetrius Harris #84, and Cameron Erving #75 of the Kansas City Chiefs is seen taking a knee before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at the StubHub Center on 24 September, 2017 in Carson, California Sean M. Haffey/Getty American sportspeople kneel in protest Members of the Dallas Cowboys link arms and kneel during the National Anthem before the start of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on 25 September, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona Christian Petersen/Getty American sportspeople kneel in protest Bruce Maxwell of the Oakland Athletics kneels as teammate Mark Canha #20 places his hand on Maxwell's shoulder during the singing of the National Anthem before their MLB American League baseball game against the Seattle Mariners at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California on 25 September 2017 Reuters/Stephen Lam American sportspeople kneel in protest Members of the Oakland Unified School District Honor Band kneel as they perform the national anthem before a MLB American League baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California on 25 September, 2017 Reuters/Stephen Lam American sportspeople kneel in protest Samaje Perine #32 and Chris Carter #55 of the Washington Redskins hold hands as they stand and kneel in unison during the national anthem before playing against the Oakland Raiders at FedExField on 24 September, 2017 in Landover, Maryland Patrick Smith/Getty American sportspeople kneel in protest Meghan Linsey, a former contestant on "The Voice," kneels after singing the national anthem before the start of the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks football game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee on 24 September, 2017 Ryan Hermens/The Paducah Sun via AP American sportspeople kneel in protest The Los Angeles Chargers are seen during national anthem before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at the StubHub Center on 24 September, 2017 in Carson, California Jeff Gross/Getty American sportspeople kneel in protest Nick Kyrgios of Team World joined NFL stars from Wembley by dropping his knee before his Laver Cup match with Roger Federer today during his mens singles match against Roger Federer of Team Europe on the final day of the Laver cup on 24 September, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic Julian Finney/Getty American sportspeople kneel in protest Laremy Tunsil #67, Maurice Smith #27 and Julius Thomas #89 kneel with Jarvis Landry #14 of the Miami Dolphins during the National Anthem prior to an NFL game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on 24 September, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey Steven Ryan/Getty American sportspeople kneel in protest Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receivers Mike Evans #13, and DeSean Jackson #11, take a knee during the national anthem before the game against the Minnesota Vikings on 24 September, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota Hannah Foslien/Getty American sportspeople kneel in protest Denver Broncos players kneel during the American National Anthem before an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills on 24 September, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York Brett Carlsen/Getty American sportspeople kneel in protest Buffalo Bills players kneel during the American National anthem before an NFL game against the Denver Broncos on 24 September, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York Brett Carlsen/Getty American sportspeople kneel in protest Colin Kaepernick #7 and Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers kneel in protest during the national anthem prior to playing the Los Angeles Rams in their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 12, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. The kneel began as a protest against police killing people of colour Thearon W. Henderson/Getty American sportspeople kneel in protest Megan Rapinoe #15 kneels during the National Anthem prior to the match between the United States and the Netherlands at Georgia Dome on 18 September, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia Kevin C. Cox/Getty

The post set off a heated Facebook war, with other users posting one-star reviews and negative comments about the bar, and Mr Burle using social media to defend his position.

“You have the right thanks to people like me to not frequent my establishment just as I have the right to protest the NFL for disrespecting the very song that stands for those freedoms,” the bar owner wrote, according to screenshots obtained by the Riverfront Times.

Several days later, however, Mr Burl had re-arranged the jerseys to read “Kaepernick Lynch,” instead. He told KOMU he didn’t plan on taking them down completely.

“I commend [the players] for what they’re doing, as far as the right goes. I fought for that right,” Mr Burle said. “The same thing that gives them that right gives me the right to place these out here.”

Donald Trump says NFL kneeling row " has nothing to do with race"

Mr Burle’s comments echo those of President Donald Trump, who recently claimed the NFL players are “disrespecting our Flag & Country”. Mr Trump’s repeated comments on the issue have ignited something of a culture war between those who support the player’s protest, and those who do not.

On Tuesday, the day Mr Burle re-arranged his jerseys, the President tweeted: “The booing at the NFL football game last night, when the entire Dallas team dropped to its knees, was loudest I have ever heard."

“Great anger,” he added.