Thursday 28 September 2017 14:00, UK
President Donald Trump has continued in his criticism on the NFL, saying the sport is "going to go to hell" as a business if it does not change.
Trump says players are entitled to protest during a game "but they cannot do it during the national anthem".
The President has been issuing regular critiques of the NFL since last week, when he said players who do not stand for the national anthem should be fired.
The practice of not standing for the anthem was started by former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick last year, as a means of protesting perceived racial injustice.
And NFL players reacted to Trump's comments by unleashing a wave of further protests last weekend, as almost 200 players knelt during the anthem, while some teams did not even take to the field for it.
Asked by a reporter on Wednesday if Kaepernick had first amendment rights (which protect freedom of speech and assembly, among other things), Trump chose to focus on the sport's TV ratings.
"I think the NFL is in a box, a really bad box," he said.
"You look what's happening with their ratings. Frankly, the only thing doing well in the NFL is the pre-game, because everybody wants to see what's going on.
"The NFL is in a very bad box. You cannot have people disrespecting our national anthem, our flags, our country and that's what they're doing.
"And, in my opinion, the NFL has to change. Or you know what's going to happen? Their business is going to go to hell."
Asked if he opposed the first amendment, Trump said: "Not at all, no.
"We have to respect our national anthem. We have to respect our country.
"And they're not respecting our country. And, most importantly, the fans agree with me. I mean, largely, the fans agree.
"There are plenty of places and, when they're protesting during a football game, I think they can find better places but they cannot do it during the national anthem. OK?"
Despite Trump's remarks, a new poll suggests support for those NFL players protesting during the national anthem is growing.
