The U.S. Soccer Federation’s (USSF) board of directors just submitted to player Megan Rapinoe and her teammates when they voted to repeal a 2017 policy requiring all players to stand during the national anthem. This policy was put in place after Rapinoe took a page out of Colin Kaepernick’s playbook by kneeling during the national anthem before her games.
.@ussoccer has repealed its rule requiring players stand for the national anthem. They put the rule into place in response to Megan Rapinoe kneeling in 2016.
“It has become clear that this policy was wrong and detracted from the important message of Black Lives Matter.” pic.twitter.com/PqLBs7rGJz
— 11Alive Sports (@11AliveSports) June 11, 2020
U.S. Soccer Backs Down – Reverses Anthem Policy
Fox News reported that the announcement of the repeal was made on Wednesday after the board of directors voted via conference call.
USSF Policy 604-1, which was repealed yesterday, stated, “All persons representing a Federation national team shall stand respectfully during the playing of national anthems at any event in which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.”
BACKSTORY: US Women’s Soccer Demands Repeal Of ‘Anthem Policy’ Requiring They ‘Stand Respectfully’
U.S. Soccer released the following statement after the repeal:
“We have not done enough to listen — especially to our players — to understand and acknowledge the very real and meaningful experiences of Black and other minority communities in our country. We apologize to our players — especially our Black players — staff, fans, and all who support eradicating racism. Sports are a powerful platform for good, and we have not used our platform as effectively as we should have. We can do more on these specific issues and we will.”
U.S. Soccer Players Demand Apology
Of course, the repeal was not enough to satisfy them.
The U.S. Soccer Athletes’ Council has responded by demanding that the federation also apologize for enacting the policy in the first place in order to create a “positive relationship to exist going forward.”
“Then and only then do we feel a new chapter between the USSF and its athletes can begin. Additionally, we urge US Soccer to develop a plan with action items focused on anti-racism that will be shared publicly with its athletes, key stakeholders, and fans,” the council said in a statement.
The US Women’s National Team Players Association asked for an apology as well, and made it clear that they have big plans when it comes to addressing racial inequality:
“Until USSF does so, the mere existence of the policy will continue to perpetuate the misconceptions and fear that clouded the true meaning and significance of Colin Kaepernick, Megan Rapinoe and other athletes taking a knee — that Black people in America have not been and continue to not be afforded the same liberties and freedoms as white people and that police brutality and systemic racism exist in this country.”
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Anthem-Kneeling Is Disrespectful To The Flag. PERIOD.
Rapinoe, Kaepernick, and their fellow liberals can glorify kneeling during the anthem all they want. But that won’t change the fact many see the practice as a sign of disrespect to the American flag and those who have fought and died for it.
It’s disheartening to see U.S. Soccer so easily submit to pressure from the left by reversing a policy that simply required players to respect the flag as every American should.
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