NFL to fine teams if players kneel during US national anthem

The NFLwill fine teams if players on the pitch kneel for the US national anthem under new rules announced today.

The American football league said players can stay in the locker room during the Star Spangled Banner if they do not wish to stand.

It also pledged to "impose appropriate discipline on league personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem".​

In a statement, commissioner Roger Goodell said: "It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic. This is not and was never the case."

Some NFL players chose to kneel during the national anthem last year to protest police shootings of unarmed black men.

Donald Trump waded into the debate branding those that took part "unpatriotic".

During a rally in September last year, he said: "Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a b**** off the field right now. Out. He's fired. He's fired'. Wouldn't you love it?"

Mr Trump's remarks provoked team owners and the NFL to stridently defend the sport and its players.

The NFL Player's Association (NFLPA) said it may challenge the new policy.

​NFLPA said in a statement: "Our union will review the new 'policy' and challenge any aspect of it that is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement."

Across the country last year, players took a knee as the national anthem was played with others standing arm in arm in solidarity.

The player's union said that NFL players have "shown their patriotism through their social activism, their community service, in support of our military and law enforcement and yes, through their protests to raise awareness about the issues they care about."

There had been previous rumours that the NFL would issue a 15 yard penalty for kneeling however this was not carried out.

Additional reporting by Press Association.