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NFL fans chant ‘tackle the Muslim’ in ugly scenes before 49ers game

THE return of controversial NFL star Colin Kaepernick has triggered ugly scenes from disorderly fans in the USA.

Mark W. Sanchez
less than 2 min read
October 17, 2016 - 7:11AM
Controversy.
Controversy.

COLIN Kaepernick’s first start of the season came against a team featuring a Donald Trump-supporting head coach in a Rust Belt city that looked at the kneeling quarterback as sitting prey — literally.

Buffalo’s tailgate scene on Sunday before the Bills’ matchup against the 49ers was a ghastly one, filled with both disdain and fury for the quarterback who has been protesting the national anthem.

One salesman offered shirts featuring Kaepernick on a “Wanted” poster — with a target trained upon him.

Other fans crafted a Kaepernick dummy doll, which they took turns tackling. According to The MMQB, one fan screamed, “Tackle the Muslim,” before a woman took a run at the effigy.

Kaepernick — the face of the expanding movement that is intended to shine a spotlight on police brutality against minorities — had been benched all season, but at 1-4, Chip Kelly turned to the QB who led San Francisco to the Super Bowl following the 2012 season. When he actually took the field, he was lustily booed. One fan screamed, “Your parents don’t even like you” — a possible reference to his birth mother disagreeing with his stance.

Fans then chanted “USA! USA” before the national anthem was played, for which Kaepernick again took a knee.

When the dust settled the Bills moved on with a 45-16 win and Kaepernick’s protest remaining as complex an issue as ever.

Originally published as NFL fans chant ‘tackle the Muslim’ in ugly scenes before 49ers game

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Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/sport/american-sports/nfl/nfl-fans-chant-tackle-the-muslim-in-ugly-scenes-before-49ers-game/news-story/df119a9a40b1ab899a8e41742340477f