We have a new American flag controversy in the NFL, but this time, it has nothing to do with the national anthem.
Pictures of the pregame ritual before the Green Bay Packers-Buffalo Bills matchup on Sunday went viral after several fans at Lambeau Field snapped photos of a red, white and blue flag with modified stars and stripes during the playing of the national anthem.
Game time here at Lambeau Field. 49 degrees. pic.twitter.com/HwByo4HCyW
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) September 30, 2018
Many fans quickly assumed the flag was a modified American flag and angrily started tweeting at the NFL.
Not sure what country today’s Packers-Bills game is being played in but that’s not my flag pic.twitter.com/XGsk75sPsM
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) September 30, 2018
The Green Bay #Packers put out their own version of a flag during the National Anthem that IS NOT THE USA Flag! pic.twitter.com/hrCbZ076Xq
— David Croom (@dailycallout) September 30, 2018
Green Bay wanted to use the away version of our flag.
I love the United States of France. https://t.co/2ljQ2vVtah
— mexi (@BlakeneySZN) September 30, 2018
The Green Bay Packers released a statement clarifying exactly what the flag signified.
“The banner used during Sunday’s pregame ceremony supplemented the three U.S. flags on the roof of the stadium and the flag carried by the color guard on the field,” Packers spokesman Aaron Popkey said. “We’ve used such displays from time to time in the past when other pregame elements take up a significant portion of the field.”
The University Of Wisconsin marching band featured approximately 200 members and apparently took up too much of the filed to unveil the entire American flag. So this will have to do for Green Bay fans, for now.