Football
Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondent 7y

Bruce Arena supports U.S. Soccer's national anthem policy: 'I'm all for it'

MILLBRAE, Calif. - U.S. national team manager Bruce Arena has come out in support of the U.S. Soccer Federation's policy of having its players "stand respectfully" for national anthems when representing the country.

The new policy was revealed at the USSF's annual general meeting in Hawaii after being approved by the board of directors on Feb. 9. The policy says: "All persons representing a Federation national team shall stand respectfully during the playing of national anthems at any event in which the Federation is represented."

Fox Sports analyst Stuart Holden first posted an image of the rule on Twitter.

The policy comes after U.S. women's national team player Megan Rapinoe knelt during the anthem at a pair of national team matches last year. The midfielder has said she wanted to express solidarity with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who knelt last season in an attempt to bring attention to racial inequality. Rapinoe said on Monday that she will respect the policy.

Speaking at a reporters' roundtable ahead of Tuesday's announcement of the groups for this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup, Arena said he was "all for it."

"I don't have any background on what the legal implications are, or any of that stuff, but who would argue that you [shouldn't] be standing for your national anthem? I understand that, but I also understand the other side of it."

When asked if he had a preference for what his players should do, or if he would be OK with a player kneeling, Arena declined to get into specifics, stating that his focus is on two World Cup qualifiers to be played later this month against Honduras and Panama.

"I don't want to get into that," he said. "All the stuff I've got to worry about, do you think I need to be worrying about that right now?"

Arena's comments echoed those of LA Galaxy midfielder Jermaine Jones, who told reporters after Saturday's 2-1 loss to FC Dallas: "You know, for me it's clear. I think if you represent your country, you have to stand. So if you have the blessing that you can wear that jersey, I don't think it's nice for you to kneel down and that's my [view] to that.

"But I think everyone can make his own choice as to what he wants. But I think if the national team says that, they're right."

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