Race activist Colin Kaepernick files lawsuit against the NFL

Colin Kaepernick has started legal action against the NFL, accusing the league’s 32 owners of colluding to keep him out of a job.

The controversial quarterback, known for his kneeling protests against racial inequality, has been a free agent since leaving the San Francisco 49ers at the end of last season. The 29-year-old and his lawyers believe he has been intentionally overlooked, despite injuries to other quarterbacks and, arguably, players of lesser ability than Kaepernick being signed.

Kaepernick has been a divisive figure since opting to sit initially during the national anthem in August 2016, then kneeling at the subsequent pre-match ritual. He explained at the time: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour.”

Yesterday, his lawyers issued a statement, which read: “We can confirm that this morning we filed a grievance on behalf of Colin Kaepernick. This was done only after pursuing every possible avenue with all NFL teams and their executives.

“If the NFL (as well as professional sports leagues) is to remain a meritocracy, then principled and peaceful political protests, which the owners themselves made great theatre imitating weeks ago, should not be punished and athletes should not be denied employment based on partisan political provocation by the executive branch of our government.

“Such a precedent threatens all patriotic Americans and harkens back to our darkest days as a nation. Protecting all athletes from such collusive conduct is what compelled Mr Kaepernick to file his grievance. Colin Kaepernick’s goal has always been to simply be treated fairly by the league he performed at the highest level for and to return to the football playing field.”

Other players have followed suit with Kaepernick’s stance, leading to vocal criticism from US President Donald Trump. Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, told BBC Sport last week that he had “never heard anyone talking about excluding” Kaepernick.