The US Soccer Federation lifted the ban on kneeling during the national anthem

On Saturday, the American Football Association officially repealed its controversial law banning players from kneeling during the national anthem as a sign of protest.

The board of directors of the authority had already repealed the law last year, but for this decision to be final, this decision requires confirmation from members of the governing body of American football.

Within the framework of its annual meeting held on Saturday, 71% of MPs voted in favor of the board’s decision and 29% opposed.

The controversial rule was introduced in 2017 after the women’s star, Megan Rapinoe, fell to the knee while playing the anthem ahead of an international match in solidarity with a female player. football American Colin Kaepernick, who promoted this gesture as a protest against racism and police abuse against African American residents.

Al Qaeda instructed international players to “stand with respect” during the national anthem.

Last June, US Soccer announced the cancellation of the rule, saying it was a mistake, apologizing to its players and admitting that it had not done “enough to listen, understand, and acknowledge the real and meaningful experiences of blacks and other minority communities in our country.”

At the time, the Union was facing severe challenge by this rule in the context of the wave of protests against racism unleashed by the killing of African American George Floyd at the hands of a white Minneapolis policeman.