US Players Object To Singing The National Anthem Once More
The US team, the current world champions, sparked a controversy in which certain players have been called “disrespectful” by well-known right-wing speakers in the US.
The US team, the current world champions, sparked a controversy in which certain players have been called "disrespectful" by well-known right-wing speakers in the US.
Before their elimination against Sweden in the round of 16, six members of the US women’s national team once again objected to singing the national anthem at the World Cup.
The US team, the current world champions, sparked a controversy in which certain players have been called “disrespectful” by well-known right-wing speakers in the US.
Following similar refusals to sing national anthem during their group-stage games against Vietnam, the Netherlands, and Portugal, this was the fourth time the topic has come up during this tournament.
Around half of the beginning lineup sang, but Crystal Dunn, Naomi Girma, Emily Fox, Andi Sullivan, Sophia Smith, and Trinity Rodman didn’t sing along.
At a time when the team’s performance on the pitch versus the Olympic silver medalists was crucial, the episode implies political discord inside the group.
Megyn Kelly, a well-known US media figure, has been among several who have criticized the team, saying so early in the competition on SiriusXM’s The Megyn Kelly Show.
“I really do believe their version of what a feminist is and what it means to be an empowered woman, at least as an American woman, means you need to hate your country.”
“It means to go out on the national stage and embarrass yourself and your country by not singing the national anthem. For several of them, not even holding their hands over their hearts when the national anthem played, that was a bridge too far.”
“They couldn’t be bothered to actually place their hand on their hearts as the national anthem played, as they stood out there representing you and me and the country and our military and people who have given their lives for the country that they represent. It was too much of an effort [for them] to place their hand over their hearts or, God forbid, sing.”
Others may be seen singing, including top attacker Alex Morgan. While Girma has yet to clarify why certain players appear to be protesting, he has dismissed the criticism from earlier in the competition, saying:
“I think when we’re out there, we’re preparing for the game, and that isn’t the focus.” “So ultimately, every player has the choice.”
The anthem protests by athletes began in 2016 when Megan Rapinoe was motivated to do the same after Colin Kaepernick, an American football player, did so to draw attention to racial injustice and police brutality in the US.
Before the 2019 World Cup final in France, Rapinoe declared,
“I’ll probably never put my hand over my heart. I’ll probably never sing the national anthem again. I feel like it’s kind of defiance in and of itself to just be who I am and wear the jersey, and represent it.”
Until their equal pay case against the federation was resolved for $24 million (£19 million) in February of last year, the women’s squad had been embroiled in a protracted fight with US Soccer.
