Wednesday 22 November 2017 18:39, UK
President Donald Trump has slammed NFL commissioner Roger Goodell amid suggestions teams could stay in locker rooms during the national anthem.
Reports in America claim various NFL owners believe there is a strong possibility of the league's national anthem policy being changed if protests persist.
Trump has spoken out against players taking a knee during the anthem and believes the new alternative is "almost as bad" as the current demonstrations.
The president tweeted: "The NFL is now thinking about a new idea - keeping teams in the Locker Room during the National Anthem next season.
"That's almost as bad as kneeling! When will the highly paid Commissioner finally get tough and smart? This issue is killing your league!....."
Trump was also critical of LaVar Ball, father of Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball, labelling him "ungrateful" after he refused to thank the President for helping his son LiAngelo Ball following his arrest in China.
Following their release, LiAngelo Ball and his UCLA teammates Cody Riley and Jalen Hill have thanked Trump and the US government, but LaVar Ball has played down the president's intervention.
Trump tweeted: "It wasn't the White House, it wasn't the State Department, it wasn't father LaVar's so-called people on the ground in China that got his son out of a long term prison sentence - IT WAS ME."
"Too bad! LaVar is just a poor man's version of Don King, but without the hair. Just think...LaVar, you could have spent the next 5 to 10 years during Thanksgiving with your son in China, but no NBA contract to support you.
"But remember LaVar, shoplifting is NOT a little thing. It's a really big deal, especially in China. Ungrateful fool!"