USWNT MF Megan Rapinoe said that she will "respect a new U.S. Soccer Federation policy" requiring players to stand during the National Anthem, according to Anne Peterson of the AP. The policy was "approved last month but came to light Saturday" before the USWNT lost to England in a SheBelieves Cup match. The policy comes after Rapinoe "knelt during the anthem at a pair of national team matches last year" (AP, 3/6). ESPN's Michael Smith noted the policy includes no preset consequences, but U.S. Soccer "clearly doesn't want a Megan Rapinoe repeat." Smith: "Let’s nip this kneeling thing in the bud, as if it were some fad and not part of the fabric of our nation and as if the only way to proudly represent our country in competition is to completely put aside its pressing problems." He added, "I get that we are talking about the honor and privilege associated with being part of our national team, and U.S. Soccer certainly has the right to govern as it sees fit. But a forced display of patriotism feels too much like nationalism" ("SportsCenter,” ESPN, 3/6).
PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS: In L.A., Dylan Hernandez writes whether the USSF was "right -- or smart, even -- to institute this rule can be debated." Hernandez: "My visceral reaction tells me it was unnecessary. But there is an opportunity here." With the threat of punishment "serving as a barometer to measure their depth of conviction, national team soccer players now have a chance to be taken seriously in the political arena." The contemporary athlete-activist is "widely perceived as making no sacrifices, which is why the majority of what he or she says or does gets dismissed." The USSF's intention "clearly was to eliminate controversy and the resulting backlash from sponsors." In the short term, it "will do that." The USSF "smartly decided against outlining specific penalties, safeguarding the federation from having to hand down a harsh punishment on a popular or indispensable player." It will nonetheless "require courage on the part of a player to take a stand and face the unknown penalties" (L.A. TIMES, 3/7).
COUNTER ATTACK: Former USMNT player and current FS1 analyst Alexi Lalas got into a spirited Twitter exchange with SI's Grant Wahl over the new policy. Wahl, displaying an image of the famous John Carlos/Tommie Smith '68 black power salute, tweeted, "You're on the wrong side of history if you'd forbid protests like this." Lalas: "So would you support a #USMNT player wearing a red #MAGA hat during the anthem?" Wahl: "Wouldn't want it prevented. Though I'd find the comparison of centuries of slavery to a Trump campaign slogan deeply offensive." Lalas: "So what actions would you want prevented and why?" Wahl: "Just to be clear: You would have wanted the 1968 black power salute to be prevented?" Lalas: "No. But that was also an individual moment unlike a pregame anthem." ... Wahl: "I guess we disagree. The 1968 guys were part of a team too. Seems odd that you're OK with that but not Rapinoe kneeling" (TWITTER.com, 3/5-3/6).
