A San Francisco 49ers cheerleader was pictured kneeling during the United States national anthem at a National Football League game on Thursday.
Photos posted on Twitter showed the unidentified woman on her right knee before the game against the Oakland Raiders at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The rest of the squad is standing and holding pompoms up while the national anthem was sung.
According to US media, the 49ers have declined to comment about the unidentified cheerleader.
Colin Kaepernick, who knelt during the anthem in 2016 to protest racism and police brutality, used to play for the 49ers.
San Francisco 49ers' Colin Kaepernick kneels during the US national anthem. Source: AAP
His action inspired other players to also protest during the anthem, angering US President Donald Trump who called on team owners to fire them.
Mr Trump has said NFL ratings are down as a result of the protests.
"If the players stood proudly for our Flag and Anthem, and it is all shown on broadcast, maybe ratings could come back? Otherwise worse!" he tweeted in September.
Cheerleaders for college football teams have knelt during the national anthem, but this is the first time a cheerleader at the top level has taken such action.
The NFL owners in May approved a rule requiring players to either stand on the field for the anthem or remain in the locker room.
Mr Kaepernick has been without a team since March of last year, and has filed a grievance claiming the league's owners have colluded to keep him out of work.
The quarterback recently appeared in a controversial Nike ad with the quote: "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything".
In response, critics of the footballer and Nike have torn up, burned or defaced their Nike products, many using the #bannike, #dumpnike or even #justburnit hashtags on Twitter.
The Twitter post from country singer John Rich shows a cut up pair of Nike socks. Source: Twitter
Additional reporting: Reuters
