U.S. Soccer Enacts Policy to Make Players Stand During National Anthem

The United States Soccer Federation has officially implemented a new policy to ensure all players representing the country at the international level stand for the national anthem. 

On Saturday, Stuart Holden of Fox Sports passed along confirmation of the new rule, which received clearance from the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors in February:

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started a wave of protests across the American sports landscape by kneeling for the national anthem last year.

Women's national team midfielder Megan Rapinoe was among the athletes to join Kaepernick in a show of solidarity, per Graham Hays of ESPN.com. She knelt on one knee before the September friendly matches against Thailand and the Netherlands.

Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated reported U.S. Soccer opted against a formal punishment for Rapinoe after stating there could be repercussions following the first instance ahead of the Thailand match.

In October, the 31-year-old Seattle Reign star posted an article on the Players' Tribune explaining her decision and her intent to continue kneeling.

"I haven't experienced over-policing, racial profiling, police brutality or the sight of a family member's body lying dead in the street," Rapinoe wrote. "But I cannot stand idly by while there are people in this country who have had to deal with that kind of heartache."

She added: "There is no perfect way to protest. I know that nothing I do will take away the pain of those families. But I feel in my heart it is right to continue to kneel during the national anthem, and I will do whatever I can to be part of the solution."

Meanwhile, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported this week Kaepernick is planning to stand for the national anthem during the 2017 NFL season. He "no longer wants his method of protest to detract from the positive change he believes has been created," according to the report.

It's unknown whether the other athletes like Rapinoe who joined the protest, which ranged from those in the professional ranks to high school sports, will follow suit.

U.S. Soccer didn't immediately provide information about the type of punishment players could face if they don't follow the new policy moving forward.