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John Tortorella would bench players who sit during National Anthem

Ahead of the World Cup of Hockey, Team USA head coach John Tortorella says he may not allow players to protest during the national anthem by sitting, he told ESPN's Linda Cohn on Tuesday.

"If any of my players sit on the bench for the national anthem, they will sit there the rest of the game." Tortorella said.

The warning comes after San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has decided not to stand for the national anthem during the preseason in protest of racial inequalities and injustices taking place in America, including police-related violence. U.