Rapinoe kneels during anthem before US match vs. Thailand

COLUMBUS, Ohio — American soccer player Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem before a US women's national team match against Thailand on Thursday night (Friday in Manila), expressing solidarity with NFL player Colin Kaepernick.

 

Rapinoe first knelt during the anthem on Sept. 4 before a game with her National Women's Soccer League team, the Seattle Reign. She said she wanted to show support for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Kaepernick, who is not standing during the anthem to bring attention to racial inequality.

 

Rapinoe did not start the game against Thailand at Mapfre stadium. She knelt from a spot near the bench while the fellow reserves around her stood.

 

The 31-year-old, who helped the US win the World Cup last year and played in the Rio Olympics, came into the game at the start of the second half.

 

At a game Sunday night in Seattle, the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, she stood and linked arms with her Reign teammates.

 

Last week before a Reign match at Washington, the anthem was played before the teams took the field rather than "subject our fans and friends to the disrespect we feel such an act would represent," said a Spirit statement that cited the personal beliefs of the team owner.

 

There was speculation that Rapinoe might refrain from kneeling before Thursday night's game at Mapfre Stadium because she was playing for the United States and not her club team. It was also the final game for midfielder Heather O'Reilly, who is retiring after 15 years with the national team.

 

Kaepernick's refusal to stand for the anthem first came to public notice when he remained seated on the bench before an NFL preseason game against Green Bay. Since then numerous players have joined the protest, taking a knee or raising a fist.

 

"Being a gay American, I know what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties. It was something small that I could do and something that I plan to keep doing in the future and hopefully spark some meaningful conversation around it," she told American Soccer Now.

 

Since coming out in 2012, Rapinoe has been devoted advocate for LGBT rights and has worked with the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and other organizations.

 

Rapinoe also has been vocal about pay equity, and was among five national team players who lent their names to a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging wage discrimination. The players claim that members of the team make in some cases up to four times less than their male national team counterparts.