Photo that infuriated America’s greatest

“Don’t bring that bulls**t here.”

That’s the message from superstar American footballer Megan Rapinoe to anyone who supports Donald Trump or who stormed the US Capitol last week in a direct assault on democracy.

The most recognisable face of the US Women’s National Team (USWNT), who has long been outspoken on issues of racial, gender and social inequality, slammed the rioters in Washington, who were there at the urging of Trump as the outgoing president repeated baseless claims of election fraud.

Two of those in attendance were a couple from California, who had flown to Washington to support Trump and hear him speak. Robert and Doreyne Douglas told the San Francisco Chronicle they didn’t join the mob in breaching barriers and barging their way inside the Capitol, but stayed outside singing and chanting with the crowd.

Doreyne was snapped by San Francisco Chronicle photographer Jessica Christian waiting at the airport for a flight home after the dark day in American history, where she was wearing a “Trump 2020” face mask and a USWNT jumper.

This is who we are. White supremacists taking comfort in the USWNT crest is a problem. pic.twitter.com/RrDfLxIJt1

Rapinoe saw the photo, but doesn’t want anybody who played a part in the events at the Capitol barracking for her or the American team.

“Just from a personal standpoint, I feel like I can probably speak on behalf of my teammates. That is not the kind of fan that we will welcome,” Rapinoe said.

“The US crest is not to be confused with anything that has to do with white supremacy, anything that has to do with the Trump administration and anything that has to do with that divisive culture that we saw on the Capitol.

“So, don’t take any comfort in thinking that the crest is synonymous with that or that the red, white and blue or the stars that we have above it.

“I saw the picture. I want to, we want to create and continue to create, a place that’s inclusive and diverse for our fans to be and for our players to play in front of and for people to watch on TV and for the media to cover.

“So don’t bring that bulls**t here.”

Megan Rapinoe doesn’t want violent rioters cheering for her.Source:AFP

Rapinoe will go down as one of America’s greatest ever footballers, having led her country to World Cup glory in 2019. She also won the Ballon d’Or as the best female player in the world that year, won the FIFA Women’s Player of the Year award and was crowed Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year.

During the 2019 World Cup in France, Rapinoe slammed Trump and said she would never visit the White House, even if her team was invited.

“I’m not going to the f***ing White House,” the US co-captain said in June that year. “No. I’m not going to the White House.”

“Considering how much time and effort and pride we take in the platform that we have, in using it for good and for leaving the game in a better — and hopefully the world in a better place — I don’t think that I would want to go.

“And I would encourage my teammates to think hard about lending that platform or having that co-opted by an administration that doesn’t feel the same way, doesn’t fight for the same things that we fight for.”

Rapinoe also opposed Trump by kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 in solidarity with NFL star Colin Kaepernick, who led the protest movement against police brutality and racial injustice.

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