Sunday 24 September 2017 13:13, UK
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has described Donald Trump's calls for club owners to fire players who protest the national anthem as " divisive" and a demonstration of a "lack of respect".
Goodell responded to the the American president's comments with a strongly-worded statement which condemned Trump for failing to "understand the overwhelming force for good" the NFL clubs and players represent in communities.
The protests have become a topic of discussion within the sport ever since quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the anthem in protest against perceived racial injustice and police brutality.
"The NFL and our players are at our best when we help create a sense of unity in our country and our culture," the statement read.
"There is no better example than the amazing response from our clubs and players to the terrible natural disasters we've experienced over the last month.
"Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities."
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman was among a large number of NFL players to condemn Trump's remarks on social media.
The American president has urged team owners to fire athletes who take a knee or raise a fist during the anthem while also calling for NFL fans to walk out of the stadium if they see players protesting during the pre-game anthem.
Trump, speaking at a rally in Alabama, said: "Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a b**** off the field right now, out, he's fired. He's fired!'.
"You know, some owner is going to do that. He's going to say, 'That guy that disrespects our flag, he's fired.' And that owner, they don't know it (but) they'll be the most popular person in this country."
Meanwhile, also on Saturday, Trump rescinded his invitation to NBA player Stephen Curry to visit the White House after the Golden State Warriors guard and two-time NBA MVP indicated on Friday he would vote against the team celebrating the team's 2017 championship at the official residence of the president.
Curry, speaking at the Warriors' pre-season media day, said: "I don't want to go. (It would show) that we don't stand for what our president has ... the things that he's said and the things that he hasn't said in the right times, that we won't stand for it.
"By acting and not going, hopefully that will inspire some change when it comes to what we tolerate in this country and what is accepted and what we turn a blind eye to.
"It's not just the act of not going there. There are things you have to do on the back end to actually push that message into motion."
Watch Baltimore Ravens @ Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at 1:30pm on Sky Sports Action.
