Colin Kaepernick - the NFL star whose ‘kneeling’ protests against the racial injustice sparked a nationwide controversy - has denied a claim he would stand for the national anthem if he were to return to the American football league.

Over the weekend, a CBS journalist who had interviewed Kaepernick, said the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, who currently has no team, would end his protest and stand for the playing of the anthem if he was picked up by another outfit. The reporter said the 29-year-old would also donate all the proceeds from the sale of his sports jerseys.

Yet hours after the the television reporter made his comments, he was forced to retract them - admitting he had not actually spoken with the player about that specific issue.

Kaepernick, making use of a quote that may or may not have originally been coined by Winston Churchill, said: “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.”

Kaepernick’s girlfriend, Nessa Diab, posted her own message, which read: “The reports that Colin will stand for the anthem are completely false. He has never discussed this with anyone.”

Colin Kaepernick donates custom-made suits to parolees looking for jobs

It was Kaeperick who last year set in motion what has become a protest that has now reached across the country, and even crossed the Atlantic. He sat, and subsequently kneeled, during the playing of the national anthem to draw attention to the behaviour of some police officers when dealing with suspects of colour.

Since then, the protest has gathered pace, with members of most NFL teams, either kneeling or linking arms during the playing of the anthem. Donald Trump has attacked the players and called on the NFL to fire them.

Colin Kaepernick: From the Nevada Wolf Pack to San Francisco 49ers Show all 9 1 /9 Colin Kaepernick: From the Nevada Wolf Pack to San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick: From the Nevada Wolf Pack to San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick #10 of the Nevada Reno Wolf Pack crosses the goal line ahead of UNLV Rebel defenders to score a touchdown in the first quarter of their game at Sam Boyd Stadium October 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Colin Kaepernick: From the Nevada Wolf Pack to San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick #10 of the Nevada Wolf Pack looks to pass the ball against Boston College during the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park on January 9, 2011 in San Francisco, California. Ezra Shaw/Getty Colin Kaepernick: From the Nevada Wolf Pack to San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick #10 of the Nevada Reno Wolf Pack celebrates with fans after defeating the UNLV Rebels 44-26 at Sam Boyd Stadium October 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ezra Shaw/Getty Colin Kaepernick: From the Nevada Wolf Pack to San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers participates in passing drills during practice at the San Francisco 49ers training facility on July 30, 2011 in Santa Clara, California. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Colin Kaepernick: From the Nevada Wolf Pack to San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers passes the ball against the Oakland Raiders at Candlestick Park on August 20, 2011 in San Francisco, California. Ezra Shaw/Getty Colin Kaepernick: From the Nevada Wolf Pack to San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick #7 and Frank Gore #21 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate after Gore scored a 6-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens during Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Rob Carr/Getty Colin Kaepernick: From the Nevada Wolf Pack to San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball in front of Bernard Pollard #31 of the Baltimore Ravens in the first quarter during Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Al Bello/Getty Colin Kaepernick: From the Nevada Wolf Pack to San Francisco 49ers Head coach Jim Harbaugh taps Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers on the chest during warm ups prior to Super Bowl XLVII against the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Ezra Shaw/Getty Colin Kaepernick: From the Nevada Wolf Pack to San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass against the Green Bay Packers in the first half of their preseason football game at Levi's Stadium on August 26, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty

Over the weekend, Vice President Mike Pence said he had left a game between the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers after some players choose to kneel. While Mr Trump praised Mr Pence on his actions, some media reports suggested the Vice President’s actions had been planned in advance.

The latest controversy about Kaepernick - that he would would stand for the anthem if rehired - began when CBS reporter Jason La Canfora said of the player whom he had interviewed: “He’s not planning on kneeling. He’s going to donate all his jersey sales and he’s planning on standing for the anthem if given the opportunity."

After the denials, Mr La Canfora said in a series of tweets he was relaying previous reporting about Kaepernick and had not asked whether the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback would sit or stand during the anthem when he spoke about his interview with the player during a pre-game show.