US Soccer could repeal kneeling ban on players
The United States Soccer Federation is considering a repeal of a policy requiring national team players to stand during the National Anthem, according to ESPN.
For the first time in history the people have been protesting against the death of George Floyd in all 50 states around the country. People are demanding justice and equality. The voices are being heard because on 8 June the US Soccer Federation announced that they are considering repealing the policy on players not kneeling during the national anthem.
According to ESPN reporter Jeff Carlisle, the new US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone will be implementing this measure from now on, so players can express what they feel without repercussions. The policy started in 2016, when Megan Rapinoe knelt prior to a game played by the US women’s national team.
The World Cup champion joined Colin Kaepernick in the fight for racial equality and since then the US Soccer Federation prohibited any player from kneeling during the anthem. The federation’s board of directors plans to discuss the new policy on Tuesday and a formal vote is expected on Friday. If approved it will take immediate effect.
"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," policy 604-1 states.
NFL also considering to modify its policy
Kaepernick was pretty much banned from the NFL for kneeling during the national anthem and he chose to follow his beliefs over his career. As the protest continues in the United States demanding freedom of speech and equality, the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced last week that players now can peacefully protest during the national anthem and he admitted the NFL was wrong for not listening to the players sooner.