https://www.si.com/soccer/2020/08/13/mls-fans-boo-kneeling-anthem-dallas-nashville
The two teams were excluded from the MLS tournament due to some of their players testing positive for COVID.
All the players from both teams, along with the referees, kneeled during the National Anthem. Nashville won the game 1-0. (Typical soccer score.)
They didn't play the National Anthem at the tournament in Florida at the players' request.
I think that a point is raised that a lot of people don't really understand the reason for some players kneeling during the Anthem. A lot of people can't connect the street-level actions of local police officers to the abstract ideals of patriotism, the love of the flag, freedom, liberty, and justice for all. Some people see the kneeling during the Anthem as opposition to the principles of freedom and justice, while those who are kneeling simply want those principles to be practiced more consistently and equitably.
But it still seems to raise people's hackles just the same.
There was a smattering of boos when players from FC Dallas and Nashville SC collectively took a knee during the national anthem before their MLS game in Frisco, Texas, on Wednesday night.
Dallas defender Reggie Cannon said he was disgusted by the boos at Toyota Stadium when players and officials knelt to call attention to racial injustice. He said teammate Ryan Hollingshead turned to him afterward and said he was sorry.
“You can’t even have support from your own fans in your own stadium. It’s baffling to me,” Cannon said. “As a team we try to give the best possible product on the field and these last six months have been absolute hell for us. Absolute hell.”
The two teams were excluded from the MLS tournament due to some of their players testing positive for COVID.
Dallas and Nashville had not played a game since the season was suspended on March 12 because of the coronavirus. While Major League Soccer’s other teams played in the MLS is Back tournament in Florida over the past month, Dallas and Nashville were forced to withdraw before the start because of positive COVID-19 tests among players.
All the players from both teams, along with the referees, kneeled during the National Anthem. Nashville won the game 1-0. (Typical soccer score.)
They didn't play the National Anthem at the tournament in Florida at the players' request.
The anthem was not played before games at the tournament. Cannon said the players had asked that it not be played before the game because they didn’t feel it was right “for the anthem to be played in this moment.”
“We had someone chanting U.S.A., but they don’t understand what kneeling means. They don’t understand why we’re kneeling. They can’t see the reason. They think we’re the ignorant ones,” Cannon said. “It’s incredibly frustrating. I’m sorry to have this tone, but you have to call it for what it is.”
Cannon said he expected to have some negative pushback over the unified response.
“It hurts me because I love our fans, I love this club, and I want to see the support that the league has given us, that everyone has given us, from our fans,” he said.
I think that a point is raised that a lot of people don't really understand the reason for some players kneeling during the Anthem. A lot of people can't connect the street-level actions of local police officers to the abstract ideals of patriotism, the love of the flag, freedom, liberty, and justice for all. Some people see the kneeling during the Anthem as opposition to the principles of freedom and justice, while those who are kneeling simply want those principles to be practiced more consistently and equitably.
But it still seems to raise people's hackles just the same.