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More than 70% of US Soccer governing body members voted to drop the policy requiring players to “stand respectfully” during the song. About 30% voted to keep the policy in place.
“We know this is a very controversial issue in our country and around the world,” Football President Cindy Parlow Cone told reporters.
“So I was not surprised that our membership was not 100% one way or the other.”
The United States Women’s National Team showed up as a group during the anthem ahead of their SheBelieves Cup match on February 21 after some kneeled when the tournament opened on February 18.
Team members said they were past the protest phase of the anthem debate, but were still determined to fight to end systemic racism.
National Football League player Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the anthem in 2016 to protest racial injustice. Other players joined him until team owners banned the practice. This policy was reversed in 2020 in a wave of nationwide protests against racism and police brutality following the death of George Floyd in May.
That board vote required confirmation from the broader governing body of American football, which it received on Saturday.
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