NFL teams to be fined if players kneel during national anthem

Finding a middle solution to the prolonged national anthem protest,the National Football League (NFL) announced that it will fine teams if players on the field refuse to stand for the US anthem.

However, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell added that players who choose not to stand may now remain in the locker room until the anthem is finished.

The new policy is seen as a victory for the United States President Donald Trump, who loudly demanded an end to such protests last year.

He called them disgraceful and unpatriotic and urged the players to be fired.

US Vice-President Mike Pence also criticised the decision and walked out of an NFL game because players from Kaepernick's team knelt during the anthem.

However, the decision to fine players was welcomed by Trump, saying players who don't want to stand maybe they should not be in the country.

"I think that's good. I don`t think people should be staying in locker rooms but still I think it`s good," Trump said.

"You have to stand, proudly, for the national anthem. Or you shouldn`t be playing, you shouldn`t be there, maybe you shouldn`t be in the country," he added.

But there was also criticism of the move.

The NFL Players Association criticised the new policy, saying it was not consulted and that it may issue a challenge should it violate the collective bargaining agreement.

"The vote by the club CEOs today contradicts the statements made to our player leadership by commissioner Roger Goodell and the chairman of the NFL's management council John Mara about the principles, values and patriotism of the league," the players union said.

The debate over the kneeling protests began in 2016, when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the anthem.

Similar demonstrations spread across the league, where most players are African American.