NFL players shall be inspired to stand for the national anthem at the begin of the soccer video games, the league’s chief instructed reporters at the moment.
After two days of assembly with homeowners of every NFL workforce, representatives for the players’ union and players themselves, the NFL has reiterated its determination to maintain its present coverage of not requiring players to stand throughout the anthem. Goodell stated yesterday that the league would not instate a rule that may penalize players who refuse to stand for the anthem.
“We believe everyone should stand for the national anthem,” he instructed reporters at a information convention at the moment. “That’s an important part of our policy. It’s also an important part of our game that we all take great pride in. And it’s also important for us to honor our flag and our country and I think our fans expect us to do that.”
Goodell’s remarks got here after President Donald Trump continued his criticism of the NFL this morning. On Twitter, Trump stated: “The NFL has decided that it will not force players to stand for the playing of our National Anthem. Total disrespect for our great country!”
After former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeled throughout the anthem final 12 months to protest police killings of unarmed black males, dozens of different players joined him to attract better consideration to social and racial injustice. Last month, Trump stated the NFL ought to fireplace players who didn’t stand for the anthem.
The players “are not doing this in any way to be disrespectful to the flag,” Goodell stated at the moment. “But they also understand how it’s being interpreted.”
Goodell additionally stated the league needed to remain out of the political area over the subject.
“We’re not looking to get into politics,” he instructed reporters. “What we’re looking to do is to continue to get people focused on football.”
