This fall, when USWNT defender Megan Rapinoe began kneeling during the national anthem to support other athletes in protesting racial inequality in the United States, it touched off a chain of events that revealed US Soccer to be very clueless about its fanbase. That chain of events has added another very silly link:
New Policy added to @ussoccer bylaws: Players "shall stand respectfully during playing of national anthem @ which federation is represented" pic.twitter.com/fkVtCI1iHC
— Stuart Holden (@stuholden) March 4, 2017
Oh, good. Rapinoe wasn't called up to the national team for the SheBelieves Cup, and has said she will honor the new policy. What happens if someone doesn't honor the policy remains to be seen, though.
.@GrantWahl Sunil Gulati stated no preset consequences and would be addressed as it happens. https://t.co/pedMjAJ3A4
— Stuart Holden (@stuholden) March 4, 2017
Because the only USA international who was protesting via kneeling during the anthem has said she won't kneel during the anthem any more, we'll have to wait to see just what becomes of this rule. Really, it's just a move to try to stave off any controversy Rapinoe's protest was causing. Their commitment to staying neutral at all times is sort of amazing. Maybe someday US Soccer the organization will do what the players have been doing for some time and take a stand for or against something that isn't soccer related, but I doubt any of us will live to see that day.
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