President Trump will not watch U.S. Soccer due to new anthem policy

U.S. Soccer reversed its decision in a board meeting earlier this week as members voted in favor of repealing the anthem policy. However, the vote is believed to not have been unanimous.

In 2017, the U.S. Soccer Federation decided to enact a policy that forced players from both U.S. squads to stand during the national anthem after USWNT star Megan Rapinoe took a knee in solidarity with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and his protest against racial injustice and police brutality. 

A majority of Americans (52 percent) now support the right for NFL players to take a knee during the national anthem, according to a Yahoo poll, so it seems they would feel the same toward U.S. Soccer players. In 2018, only 35 percent of people were OK with players taking a knee, Yahoo added. 

U.S. Soccer's decision comes after the death of George Floyd and the racial injustice protests that have swept the nation as a result. 

Floyd, an African American man, died more than two weeks ago after he was violently apprehended by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. The incident was recorded on video by a witness. Floyd was later pronounced dead at the hospital.