Trump urges NFL boycott over player anthem protests

SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY: US President Donald Trump on Sunday stepped up his criticism of National Football League players who protest during the pregame national anthem, calling on fans to consider boycotting the NFL if teams do not discipline them.

In a tweet, Trump pressed ahead with his feud about players who refuse to stand for the anthem in what began last year as a form of protest over excessive use of force by police against African-Americans.

“If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag& Country, you will see change take place fast,” Trump wrote on Sunday. “Fire or suspend!”

In a second tweet, Trump, who is spending the weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, said that the “league should back” fans who are upset about the protests.

In 2016, then San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick put one knee to the ground

during pre-game renditions of the “Star Spangled Banner”. Several players have since made similar gestures of protest before games. At a political rally in Alabama on Friday, Trump suggested any protesting football player was a “son of a bitch” and should lose his job.

NBA players also struck back

against comments by the president on Saturday after Trump clashed with one of the biggest stars in the NBA.

On Saturday, Trump rescinded a White House invitation to Stephen Curry, who had said he would “vote” against the planned visit by the NBA champion Golden State Warriors.