U.S. Soccer's policy requiring its players to stand during the playing of the national anthem "remains in place," while MLS "says it would 'respect and support' its players' choices," according to Jeff Carlisle of ESPN FC. However, the USSF's protocol "could be put to the test in the coming weeks." The USMNT will "contest a pair of critical World Cup qualifiers in early October, while the women's side will play a pair of friendlies against South Korea later that month." The USSF has been "vague as to what the penalty would be for a player who is deemed to have violated the policy" (ESPNFC.com, 9/26). USMNT coach Bruce Arena said that he "doesn’t expect his players to kneel during the playing of the national anthem at the upcoming World Cup qualifiers." Arena: "If we need to discuss it, we’ll discuss it. But I don’t think that’s an issue we’re going to deal with." In DC, Steven Goff notes several U.S. players, most notably MF Michael Bradley, have "spoken passionately and eloquently about political and social issues in the aftermath of the presidential election." They are also members of a team that "represents the country as a whole more regularly than any other sport." Arena: "The national team is different. You don’t have to play in the national team. You can choose not to play" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/27). YAHOO SPORTS' Henry Bushnell noted MLS and its players union have both "backed players’ freedom of expression and right to peacefully protest." MLS Commissioner Don Garber issued a league-wide memo yesterday in support of players’ “right to express their personal beliefs.” No MLS player has "ever knelt or sat during either the American or Canadian national anthem before a league match." However, USWNT MF Megan Rapinoe, D Becky Sauerbrunn and F Sydney Leroux were "among nine players who stayed in the locker room during the anthem before Sunday night’s NWSL game between FC Kansas City and the Seattle Reign" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/26).
