It’s not the first time a soccer organization has attempted to stop players from protesting during the national anthem.
Last fall, the Washington Spirit played the anthem early, preventing Reign FC midfielder Megan Rapinoe from continuing to kneel during it, which she started doing in September in solidarity with 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Now, at its Annual General Meeting in Hawaii on Saturday, U.S. Soccer has instituted a new bylaw requiring players to “stand respectfully during the playing of the national anthems at any event in which the Federation is represented,” Fox’s Stuart Holden reports.