U.S. soccer player Megan Rapinoe never got the chance to follow NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s lead to kneel during the national anthem Wednesday at Maryland SoccerPlex because the home team’s owner, in a preemptive move, had "The Star-Spangled Banner" played while the athletes were in their locker rooms.
Air Force veteran Bill Lynch, the owner of the Washington Spirit, ordered the national anthem to be played before his team and the Seattle Reign could both take the field, the Washington Post reported Wednesday night.
The National Women’s Soccer League club said the Spirit played the song early "rather than subject our fans and friends to the disrespect we feel such an act would represent."
Rapinoe has already kneeled for the anthem during a previous game as a means of protest, crediting Kaepernick for her decision to do so. She first knelt Sunday when the Reign played at the Chicago Red Stars.
Kaepernick caused controversy last month by refusing to stand for the national anthem.
"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick said, explaining his actions. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."
The Washington Spirit issued a statement about the preemptive move, the Post reported.
"We understand this may be seen as an extraordinary step, but believe it was the best option to avoid taking focus away from the game on such an important night for our franchise," the Spirit said in a statement. "While we respect every individual’s right to express themselves, and believe Ms. Rapinoe to be an amazing individual with a huge heart; we respectfully disagree with her method of hijacking our organization’s event to draw attention to what is ultimately a personal–albeit worthy–cause."