Love it! Update to this story.

Via The Hill:

A Washington-area soccer team prevented a visiting player from kneeling during the national anthem by changing its pregame ceremonies, The Associated Press reported Wednesday.

Seattle Reign midfielder Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem in a game last week in a nod to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has been sitting out the song to protest police brutality.

But Rapinoe was prevented from repeating the gesture Wednesday when the home team Washington Spirit played the anthem while the teams were off the field at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

“We decided to play the anthem in our stadium ahead of schedule rather than subject our fans and friends to the disrespect we feel such an act would represent,” the Spirit said in a statement, according to the AP.

“We understand this may be seen as an extraordinary step, but believe it was the best option to avoid taking focus away from the game on such an important night for our franchise.”