This, combined with comments by Jill Ellis ahead of the game in which she expressed a personal preference that the team stand during the anthem, all pointed to Rapinoe possibly being told by U.S. Soccer not to kneel and doing it anyway.
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U.S. Soccer has said they will not punish Megan Rapinoe for taking a knee during the national anthem in order to show solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, who is protesting racial inequality in America. But U.S. Soccer indicated that the situation could be re-evaluated if Rapinoe co.
It was unclear whether Rapinoe would face any sanctions from the federation. She was in full uniform and available to play, just like she always would be.
A U.S. Soccer spokesperson confirmed before Sunday’s game that no punishment was levied on Rapinoe as a result of kneeling against Thailand. She knelt from a spot near the bench while the fellow reserves around her stood for the anthem.
The USWNT defeated Thailand 9-0 win on Thursday in the first of two friendlies during this worldwide break.
At a game Sunday night in Seattle, the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, she stood and linked arms with her Reign teammates. The midfielder did not start the match but did opt to take a knee once again during the national anthem.
Rapinoe has also knelt during a game with her club team, the Seattle Reign of the National Women’s Soccer League.
That Rapinoe is playing for the USA while taking her knee isn’t going to dissuade her.
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“Being a gay American, I know what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties”. She had told ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap this week that she thinks her message is even more important to convey in a USA uniform. The players claim that members of the team make in some cases up to four times less than their male national team counterparts.
