US Soccer: Players must 'stand respectfully' during national anthem

U.S. Soccer is taking a landmark step when it comes to ensuring players stand for the national anthem. U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said that players who don't stand for the national anthem before games will be reprimanded on a case-by-case basis. "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," A lot of attention was given to NFL players, namely Colin Kaepernick, in 2016 due to his national anthem protest against injustice in the black community. The policy was implemented after the National Women's Soccer League's Megan Rapinoe took a knee for the national anthem during at least two matches last year.