Protests spread across NFL after players kneel en masse at Wembley in defiance of Donald Trump

US football stars knelt during the national anthem at Wembley stadium in defiance of President Donald Trump sparking a flurry of further protests at NFL games in America.

More than 130 players sat, knelt or raised their fists during games in the US on Sunday after Mr Trump launched a scathing attack on NFL stars who refuse to stand up when the Star Spangled Banner is played prior to matches.

The gesture is to protest against racial discrimination and police brutality against black people.

The US president blasted players for “disrespecting” the national anthem and described them as “sons of b******” during a speech in Alabama on Friday.

Players from the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Baltimore Ravens linked arms and dropped to their knees for the US national anthem on Sunday before an NFL International Series match at Wembley.

They stood in respect for British anthem God Save the Queen immediately afterwards.

Shahid Khan, the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham FC, joined in with his players' defiant stance.

Star defender Von Miller was among 32 Denver Broncos players who knelt during the national anthem ahead of their game against the Buffalo Bills in New York.

In Chicago, the Pittsburgh Steelers stayed in the tunnel except for one player, Army veteran Alejandro Villanueva, who stood with a hand over his heart.

Star quarterback Tom Brady was among the New England Patriots who locked arms in solidarity in Foxborough, Massachusetts, ahead of their game against the Houston Texans.

Mr Trump’s comments turned the national anthems – usually sung during commercials – into must-watch television. In some NFL stadiums crowds booed or yelled at players to stand. There was also some applause.

NFL players, coaches, owners and executives used the anthems to show solidarity in their defiance to Mr Trump's criticism.

Baltimore Ravens player Terrell Suggs, who took a knee during the playing of the US anthem at Wembley Stadium, said: "We stand with our brothers. They have the right and we knelt with them today.

“To protest, non-violent protest, is as American as it gets, so we knelt with them today to let them know that we're a unified front. There ain't no dividing us. I guess we're all son-of-a-b******.”

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Mr Khan and players on both teams who were not kneeling remained locked arm-in-arm throughout the playing of the US anthem to show solidarity with those who kneeled.

But Mr Trump thought the arm-in-arm gestures were a victory. One of his latest tweets on Sunday evening said: “Great solidarity for our National Anthem and for our Country. Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable. Bad ratings!"

Before the weekend, a handful of NFL players including high-profile figures such as Colin Kaepernick, Michael Bennett and Marshawn Lynch had refused to stand during the anthem to protest several issues including police brutality.

But that number grew after Mr Trump’s two-day weekend rant that began with the president calling for NFL protesters to be fired and continued with him rescinding a White House invitation for the NBA champion Golden State Warriors over star Stephen Curry’s criticism of him.

Mr Trump said at Friday night's Alabama rally: "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?

“Some owner's going to do that. He's going to say, 'That guy who disrespects our flag, he's fired'. And that owner, they don't know it - they're friends of mine, many of them - they'll be the most popular person for a week in this country."

The comments were followed up in a series of Saturday tweets - and Mr Trump was still going on Sunday morning and into the afternoon, calling on fans to boycott games.