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

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American football stars took a knee in defiance of Donald Trump at Wembley Stadium after he said sportsmen who 'disrespect America' should be 'fired'.

Players from both Jacksonville Jaguars and the Baltimore Ravens dropped to their knees as the national anthem was played prior to the match in London.

Now similar protests have erupted across the US with at least 100 players either kneeling or sitting during the national anthem. 

No players were kneeling during the playing of 'God Save The Queen' at Wembley, which followed the Star Spangled Banner.

They did so after President Trump stoked tensions by saying NFL players who protested during the national anthem should be sacked by their team.  

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

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

Baltimore Ravens players, along with Ray Lewis (pictured second right), take a knee during the national anthem in London

Ravens players took a knee on the Wembley turf after Trump said sportsmen who 'disrespect America' should be 'fired'

Jacksonville Jaguars players took a knee before the start of the match at Wembley Stadium on Sunday

Patrick Omameh of the Jacksonville Jaguars kneels during the US national anthem before the match against the Ravens

Jacksonville Jaguars players, including Jalen Ramsey (centre) took a name during the American national anthem 

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.   

Players on both teams playing in London and Jaguars owner Shad Khan, who were not kneeling, remained locked arm-in-arm throughout the playing of the national anthem and 'God Save The Queen'. 

Khan, who also owns Championship football club Fulham, has previously donated one million US dollars to Trump's presidential inauguration.  

The Chicago Bears lined up together while the Star-Spangled Banner was played as the Pittsburgh Steelers remained off-field for the national anthem 

Several NFL players, starting last season with then-San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick (center), have either knelt, sat or raised fists during the anthem to protest police treatment of blacks and social injustice 

New Orleans Saints players sit on the bench ahead of their against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Several Indianapolis Colts' players took a knee ahead of their game against the Cleveland Browns

A handful of Miami Dolphins were spotted kneeling during the anthem while their remaining teammates locked arms in unity

Players from the Seahawks and Titans remained in their locker rooms ahead of their game in Nashville on Sunday afternoon. The sideline was empty (above) while the anthem played

More than 20 Cleveland Browns' players took a knee ahead of the game against the Indianapolis Colts

Philadelphia Eagles players and personnel stood by linked arms during the anthem before their game against the New York Giants

Detroit Lions defensive end Armonty Bryant (97), defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson (91) and defensive end Cornelius Washington (90) take a knee alongside their teammates

The Houston Texans stand with their arms linked in solidarity ahead of the game against the Patriots

Shortly after the contest got under way at Wembley, the Ravens posted a message on Twitter which read: 'We recognise our players' influence. We respect their demonstration and support them 100 per cent. All voices need to be heard. That's democracy in its highest form.'

The Jaguars tweeted a photo of Khan standing, arm in arm with Lewis and Smith, with the caption 'Unity'. 

The team's owner, Steve Bisciotti, added that he '100 per cent' supported his players' decision to kneel.

'We recognize our players' influence. We respect their demonstration and support them 100 per cent. All voices need to be heard. That's democracy in its highest form,' he said.   

The Wembley protest was the first in a series organised by NFL teams disgusted with Trump's comments.  

Games kicked off across the States with unprecedented numbers of players taking a knee during the Stars and Stripes. 

Players from the Seahawks and Titans both remained in their locker rooms during their game in Nashville. 

All of the Pittsburgh Steelers players stayed in their locker room as the national anthem was played before their match against the Chicago Bears. Only the Steelers coaches, including head coach Mike Tomlin, were on the field for the anthem. 

Only the Steelers coaches, including head coach Mike Tomlin, were on the field for the anthem

Tomlin had earlier told CBS: 'These are very divisive times for our country. For us as a football team it's about us remaining solid. We're not going to be divided by anything said by anyone and that's the thing that I posted to our guys.

'I said, "If you feel the need to do anything, I'm going to be supportive of that". As Americans we have that right. But whatever we do, we're going to do 100 per cent, we're going to do together. We're not going to let divisive times or divisive individuals affect our agenda.

'This collection of men, we're chasing something here in 2017, and we're not going to play politics.

'We're football players, coaches, we're not participating in the anthem today. Not to be disrespectful to the anthem, (but) to remove ourselves from the circumstance.

'People shouldn't have to choose, if a guy wants to go about his normal business and participate in the anthem, he shouldn't be forced to choose sides. If a guy feels the need to do something he shouldn't be separated from his team-mate who chooses not to. So we're not participating today. That's our decision.' 

The anthem singer at the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons game ended his performance of the Star Spangled Banner by kneeling and raising his fist in the air. 

At a rally in Alabama on Friday night, Trump had delivered a scathing attack on NFL players who opt to kneel in protest when the Star-Spangled Banner is played prior to matches.

He claimed team owners should sack any player involved in such a demonstration and that fans should leave the stadium if they see it.

There was a fiery response from the NFL to Trump's controversial comments.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement saying 'divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect'. 

The NFL Players' Association said Trump had crossed a line by effectively telling players to just 'shut up and play'.

Association president Eric Winston said Trump's comments were 'a slap in the face to the civil rights heroes of the past and present'. 

Some NFL players have kneeled or raised a fist during the national anthem to protest against police brutality towards black people.

This has included high-profile players such as Colin Kaepernick, Michael Bennett and Marshawn Lynch.    

Kaepernick, who remains unemployed despite leading a team to the Super Bowl at the end of the 2012 season, was the first to protest over perceived racial injustice and police brutality.

On Saturday night, the Oakland Athletics' Bruce Maxwell became the first Major League Baseball player to kneel in protest during the national anthem. 

Trump criticized some in the NFL on Friday night at a rally in Alabama, saying team owners should fire players for taking a knee during the national anthem

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace, from left, former player Ray Lewis and inside linebacker C.J. Mosley lock arms and kneel down

Jaguars players kneel and locked arms following President Trump's divisive comments over the weekend 

Jaguars players linked arms and took the knee while the the Star Spangled Banner played at Wembley Stadium 

More than 20 NFL players kneeled during the American national anthem at Wembley in response to inflammatory comments from Trump

The near packed-out Wembley contest between the Jags and Ravens offered the first chance for players to respond to Trump's comments and over a dozen took a knee as their national anthem played

Trump's comments drew sharp condemnation from some of the nation's top athletes with basketball star LeBron James calling the president a 'bum'.  

James also released a video on Saturday, saying Trump has tried to divide the country. 

'He's now using sports as the platform to try to divide us,' James said. 'We all know how much sports brings us together...it's not something I can be quiet about.' 

Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy went further, describing Trump as an 'a**hole'. 

Kaepernick's mother, Teresa, also joined in the backlash, referencing Trump's 'son of a bi*ch' comment and tweeting: 'Guess that makes me a proud bi*ch!' 

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a personal friend of President Trump, responded in forthright fashion. 

Mr Kraft said: 'I am deeply disappointed by the tone of the comments made by the President on Friday,' he said. 'There is no greater unifier in this country than sports, and unfortunately, nothing more divisive than politics. I think our political leaders could learn a lot from the lessons of teamwork and the importance of working together toward a common goal.'

NFL star Tom Brady wrote on Instagram this morning: 'Strength. Passion. Love. Brotherhood. Team. Unity. Commitment. Dedication. Determination. Respect. Loyalty. Work.'  

Trump started by announcing that NBA champion Stephen Curry, the two-time MVP for the Golden State Warriors, would not be welcome at the White House for the commemorative visit traditionally made by championship teams.

He said: 'Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!'

Later Trump reiterated what he said at a rally in Alabama the previous night - that NFL players who kneel for the national anthem should be fired, and called on NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to tell them to stand.

He stepped up his rhetoric today, urging fans to boycott NFL games as way of making change 'take place fast'.

Trump, who is spending the weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, added: 'NFL attendance and ratings are WAY DOWN. Boring games yes, but many stay away because they love our country. League should back U.S.'   

NFL star Tom Brady posted this Instagram post in the wake of Trump's controversial comments 

The Golden State Warriors said the team had clearly understood 'that we are not invited' to the White House but would visit Washington DC on its own 'to celebrate equality, diversity, and inclusion'. 

John F Kennedy was the first president to host the NBA champions, when the Boston Celtics visited in January 1963. The visit became an annual occurrence under Ronald Reagan. Golden State visited Barack Obama after winning the title in 2015. 

Separately, 2017 college basketball champions the North Carolina Tar Heels announced they, too, would not be going to the White House to celebrate their victory, despite being invited.