Super Bowl organisers scrap Maroon 5 press conference

The NFL cancelled the traditional press conference for the stars of the Super Bowl half-time show amid reported criticism in the music world over the treatment of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Three-time Grammy Award-winning band Maroon 5 will headline the halftime concert in Atlanta on Sunday, one of the highlights of the biggest event on the US sporting calendar.

Usually, the musical acts due to perform at the Super Bowl hold a media conference on the Friday before the sporting showpiece.

However, the NFL confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that no press conference would take place this year.

"Maroon 5 has been working hard on a Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show that will meet and exceed the standards of this event," a statement said. "As it is about music, the artists will let their show do the talking as they prepare to take the stage this Sunday."

The statement said instead of the press conference, "a cross-platform roll-out of behind-the-scenes footage and content from each of the halftime performers" would get underway.

Maroon 5 are due to be joined by Atlanta native Big Boi and Grammy-nominated rapper Travis Scott in Sunday's show.

More than 75,000 people signed an online petition urging Maroon 5 not to play the Super Bowl as a gesture of support to Kaepernick, who started kneeling protests during pre-game US anthem performances as a way to protest racial and social injustice and police brutality.

Kaepernick, a former star for the San Francisco 49ers, has not played in the league since 2016. He filed a grievance against the NFL and club owners last year, claiming they have conspired not to hire him.

Artists including singer Rihanna reportedly turned down the halftime show in support of Kaepernick.