U.S. Soccer Lifts Anthem Kneeling Ban
On Tuesday, June 9, the United States Soccer Federation voted to repeal Policy 604-1, which required its players to stand during the playing of the national anthem prior to matches. The policy, which was put in place in February of 2017, was created in response to OL Reign (then Seattle Reign FC) forward Megan Rapinoe’s decision to kneel during a U.S. Women’s National Team friendly against Thailand.
The decision came after calls from the U.S. Soccer Athlete Council and the U.S. Women’s National Team Players’ Association to repeal the policy and issue a formal apology to players. In a statement issued by U.S. Soccer on June 10, the organization acknowledged the damage caused by its misguided and unjust policy.
“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.”
Rapinoe first knelt during the national anthem at an OL Reign match against the Chicago Red Stars in Bridgeview, IL on September 4, 2016.
After the match, Rapinoe told reporters that she had done so in solidarity with NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick had drawn both support and criticism for his decision to protest racial inequity in America by kneeling during the anthem.
On September 7, 2016 OL Reign issued a statement in which it voiced its support for Rapinoe—and all the club’s players—to participate in pre-match ceremonies in a manner consistent with their personal beliefs.
On September 16, after the U.S. WNT match against Thailand, Rapinoe told ESPN, “I think that we need to look at all the things that we say the flag and the anthem mean and everybody that it represents and all the liberties and the freedoms that we want it to mean to everybody, and ask ourselves, Is it protecting everybody in the same way? Is it giving all the freedoms to everyone in the country the same way, or are there certain people that don’t feel as protected as I do every day?”
On February 9, 2017, after the conclusion of the 2016 NWSL season and subsequent to Rapinoe kneeling during the national anthem prior to USWNT matches, U.S. Soccer approved Policy 604-1, which 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.
Rapinoe was left with no choice but to follow the edict from U.S. Soccer, issuing a release through her agent.
“I will respect the new bylaw the leadership at USSF has put forward,” the statement said. “That said, I believe we should always value the use of our voice and platform to fight for equality of every kind.”
OL Reign has reaffirmed its commitment to support all players who wish to use their platform to highlight injustice, encourage debate, and fight for change in our community and country.