MLS players allowed to kneel during national anthem

MLS commissioner Don Garber said the league supports the rights of players to kneel during the national anthem should they choose to do so. Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

MLS commissioner: Players will be allowed to kneel during national anthem

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 6/10/20

Major League Soccer, in conjunction with Walt Disney World, announced Wednesday that the "MLS is Back Tournament" will take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from July 8 - Aug. 11.

While the format is different, some of the pre-match festivities also will be changed or eliminated. In a conference call Wednesday, MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced the United States national anthem will not be played at matches during the tournament in Orlando because there will be no fans in attendance. However, he reiterated his stance on players kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice.

"I feel today no different than I felt then which is if a player is looking to express the right to kneel during the national anthem then they should have the right to do so," Garber said during the conference call. "I would hope that they would stand but if they opt not to then that's their prerogative and we will support that."

Here is #MLS Commissioner Don Garber’s response on the decision to not play the National Anthem at the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando. pic.twitter.com/WEXXuXZVdi
— Sean McMenamin (@sean102400) June 10, 2020

Kneeling during the national anthem was started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick who kneeled to protest police brutality and racial injustice. Kaepernick hasn't been on an NFL roster since the conclusion of the 2016 campaign, which was the same year he became a target of criticism for kneeling during the national anthem.

The national anthem debate and stance on kneeling from Garber comes after the death of George Floyd, an African American man, who died two weeks ago after he was violently apprehended by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. The incident was recorded on video by a witness.

The 46-year-old Floyd was pinned to the ground by Chauvin, who then proceeded to kneel on his neck. Floyd pleaded for his life and told Chauvin he couldn't breathe, but Chauvin refused to move, as the video showed.

Floyd was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Chauvin was arrested on May 29 on charges of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. On June 3, Chauvin's charge was upgraded to second-degree murder, and three other now-former officers who were on the scene are facing charges.

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