The United States Soccer Federation has instituted a policy that requires players on a national team to «stand respectfully» during\u2026<\/b>
NEW YORK \u2014
The United States Soccer Federation has instituted a policy that requires players on a national team to \u201cstand respectfully\u201d during national anthems, the New York Times and other media reported on Saturday.
The policy was reportedly passed by the federation\u2019s board of directors on Feb. 9 but came to light Saturday.
The policy, posted on Twitter by former men\u2019s national team player Stuart Holden, reads: \u201cAll persons representing a Federation national team shall stand respectfully during the playing of the national anthems at any event in which the Federation is represented.\u201d
U. S. Soccer director of communications Neil Buethe confirmed the policy in an email to The New York Times.
The policy comes after U. S. national player Megan Rapinoe knelt during the anthem on two occasions last year\u2014once while representing the national team and the other time while playing for the Seattle Reign of the National Women\u2019s Soccer League.\u00a0
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017.<\/p>\n