Kneeling While Singing The National Anthem Can Now Be Performed In US Football

Megan Rapinoe once kneeled while singing the US national anthem in 2016 (Twitter @ 2020johnbrooks)

JAKARTA - The PSSI of the United States, US Soccer, lifted the ban on kneeling while the national anthem was playing. They admitted that they were wrong to forbid Megan Rapinoe from doing that.

Four years ago, Rapinoe fell to his knees before the women's team match against Thailand. At that time he followed NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who did it in protest of police brutality and racial injustice.

Kaepernick has been heavily criticized by president Donald Trump for kneeling and the US Soccer board of directors passed a law in 2017 requiring its players to 'defend' The Star-Spangled Banner before games.

However, given that there is a renewed focus on issues that Kaepernick protested after George Floyd's death last month, a team of US women are calling for the ban to be lifted.

US Soccer has now revised its laws and apologized to its players for passing the rules.

"US Soccer supports the Black Lives Matter movement, and we support the fight against racial injustice," the federation said in a statement.

"The US Soccer Board voted yesterday afternoon to overhaul the 604-1 Policy, which requires our players to stand during the national anthem.

"The policy came into force after Megan Rapinoe knelt in solidarity with a peaceful protest inspired by Colin Kaepernick, who protested the brutality of the police and the systematic persecution of blacks and people of color in America.

The US Soccer Board of Directors voted yesterday to repeal Policy 604-1, which required our players to stand during the national anthem. Black Lives Matter. We can do more and we will. pic.twitter.com/wtyfkVZmsB

- US Soccer (@ussoccer) June 11, 2020

"It is clear that this policy is wrong and undermines the important message of Black Lives Matter.

"We haven't listened enough - especially from our players - to understand and acknowledge the very real and meaningful experiences of the black community and other minorities in our country.

"We apologize to our players - especially our black players - staff, fans and all those who support the eradication of racism,"

US Soccer

"Sport is a strong platform for good, and we haven't used our platform as effectively as it should be. We can do more on these specific issues and we will."

US Soccer's decision came after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell admitted that the league was also wrong in not listening to its players when they peacefully protested.