American football stars playing at Wembley defy Donald Trump and drop to their knees during US national anthem after President said sportsmen who show 'disrespect' should be FIRED

Baltimore Ravens players, including former star Ray Lewis (second right) kneel during the playing of the national anthem

American football stars took a knee in defiance of Donald Trump at Wembley Stadium today after he said sportsmen who 'disrespect America' should be 'fired'. Players from both the Baltimore Ravens (top) and Jacksonville Jaguars (bottom) dropped to their knees as the national anthem was played prior to the match in London. No players were kneeling during the playing of 'God Save The Queen', which followed the US national anthem. They did so after President Trump had stoked tensions by saying NFL players who protested during the national anthem should be sacked by their team. At a rally on Friday night the president said: 'Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bi*ch off the field right now... he is fired.' He was referring to a controversial string of protests started by player Colin Kaepernick last year when he sat or kneeled during the anthem to highlight the treatment of black Americans.

The Ravens players took a stand against Donald Trump's comments saying those who refused to stand should be 'fired'