UPDATE (7/6/2021): The U.S. Soccer teams denies that the video shows any players disrespecting World War II veteran Pete DuPré and posted a video of players, including Megan Rapinoe, greeting him and signing a ball. News Punch’s story did not explicitly state that the players disrespected Pete DuPré. It stated that some players disrespected the American flag. The video shows some players did not face the flag as Pete DuPré played the national anthem on the harmonica.
Original story continues below.
The US Women’s soccer team played against Mexico in East Hartford, Connecticut in a pre-Olympic sendoff game before heading to Japan.
WATCH:
Breitbart.com reports: : Several members of the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) did not face the flag as a 98-year-old WWII veteran played the national anthem.
The incident occurred Monday, just before the USWNT took-on Mexico in their final tune-up before the Tokyo Olympics.
A longer version of the video can be seen here:
The veteran playing the harmonica is Pete DuPré, who has gained national notoriety playing the anthem at sporting events all over the country. The USWNT protest on Monday was not the first time U.S. athletes have snubbed the flag while qualifying for the Olympics. In late June, hammer thrower Gwen Berry also turned away from the flag during the playing of the national anthem.
Monday’s incident sparked intense backlash on Twitter.
The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Mexico 4-0.