(Reuters) - Megan Rapinoe said on Monday she will respect a new U.S. Soccer Federation policy requiring national team players to stand during the playing of the U.S. national anthem rather than kneel as a sign of protest. Rapinoe, who played on the U.S. team that won the 2015 Women's World Cup and won gold at the 2012 Olympics, protested social inequality by kneeling during the national anthem ahead of two games last year. U.S. Soccer revealed on Saturday that its board of directors passed a policy that required players representing the national team to "stand respectfully" during national anthems. "I will respect the new bylaw the leadership at USSF has put forward. Protests during the U.S. national anthem have been a hot-button issue since last August, starting with the decision by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick to not stand for its playing.

Source: The Star March 06, 2017 22:30 UTC