Major League Soccer Players Booed For Kneeling During Anthem

Frisco, TX – Soccer players who took a knee during the National Anthem in Wednesday’s Major League Soccer match were met by a hostile response from fans.

The match was played between FC Dallas and Nashville SC, ESPN reported. Nashville won 1-0.

“I think it was absolutely disgusting,” Dallas defender Reggie Cannon said after the match, according to the New York Post. “You’ve got fans booing you for people taking a stand for what they believe in.”

Cannon said he and his teammates had talked about protesting with other teams ahead of Wednesday’s game.

“We got fans booing us in our own stadium. How disgraceful is that?” Cannon said, according to the New York Post. “We asked for no anthem because we don’t feel it was right for the anthem to be played at this moment. They ignored our wishes, so we were going to kneel regardless if the anthem was played or not.”

Cannon’s teammate Ryan Hollingshead apologized to Cannon after the fans booed.

“He said, ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry for our fans,’” Cannon said, according to the New York Post. “Because we had someone chanting ‘USA’ when they don’t understand what kneeling means.”

Cannon continued, according to the New York Post.

“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.”

ESPN reported that a number of MLS players stared a group called Black Players For Change which has a goal to rid society and soccer of systemic racism. There were more than 70 black players who joined the group.

ESPN reported that in other MLS matches, players and coaches have worn Black Lives Matter T-shirts.