Its now official kneeling during the national anthem before NFL games is now banned. Players who “do not stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.” will be fined. On Wednesday NFL owners have unanimously voted to approve a new national anthem policy that means that all players to must stand during the national anthem if they are on the field. Players who do not want to stand should remain off the field and in the locker room during the national anthem instead of kneeling.
It is thought that this new policy is a reaction to the 10% fall in NFL ratings during last season that many argue was a direct result of footballer players being disrespectful and not being patriotic. President Trump who was repeatedly criticize NFL footballers during the 2017 season for kneeling during the protest has in an interview expressed his delight for the new policy telling journalists in an interview on Thursday “I think that’s good. I don’t think people should be staying in the locker rooms, but still, I think it’s good. You have to stand proudly for the national anthem,” also adding that he thought players who can’t “stand proudly” for the anthem “shouldn’t be in the country.”
Should players be allowed to kneel?
