NFL players delivered a defiant message to United States president Donald Trump on both sides of the Atlantic on Sunday with various protests during the American anthem.
A handful of players had previously knelt or raised fists for the Star-Spangled Banner over perceived racial injustice and on Friday Trump attacked those kneeling, suggesting they should be fired by team owners.
Rather than deter players from doing so, there were widespread protests two days later, beginning with over 20 players taking a knee in London before the Jacksonville Jaguars' victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
Back in the States, the anthem was played at Nissan Stadium in Tennessee with both the Titans and Seattle Seahawks squads remaining in the locker rooms.
A statement from the Seahawks read: "As a team, we have decided we will not participate in the national anthem. We will not stand for the injustice that has plagued people of colour in this country.
"Out of love for our country and in honour of the sacrifices made on our behalf, we unite to oppose those that would deny our most basic freedoms. We remain committed in continuing to work towards equality and justice for all."
The Pittsburgh Steelers players remained in the tunnel prior to their game against the Chicago Bears, although Alejandro Villanueva, who served three tours in Afghanistan with the US Army, stood alone in front of it.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had earlier told CBS: "We're football players, coaches, we're not participating in the anthem. 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. That's our decision."
In Washington, the vast majority of the Oakland Raiders players sat or knelt on the sideline with their arms locked.
The day had started with the scenes at Wembley, where those who did not kneel stood arm-in-arm on the sidelines.
Trump's comments on Friday, which included using "son of a b**ch" to describe those who kneel, enraged Jaguar’s cornerback AJ. Bouye, one of those who knelt.
"I was p***ed off just for the simple fact I don't know the president as a man, just like he doesn't know us as men," he said.
"When you're five years old and you're seeing your dad have a gun pointed at his head because he looks suspicious in the neighbourhood at 6am because he's dropping his son off at a babysitter, it's not about race. It's not about black and white, it's about right and wrong."
Throughout the day Trump continued to weigh in on Twitter, at one point retweeting a picture which had the label 'BOYCOTT!' over the NFL logo.
On the field The Los Angeles Chargers failed to secure their first win, falling 24-10 to the Kansas City Chiefs and leaving them with a 0-3 record so far this season.
For the Chiefs, the win marked their 12th straight in the AFC West, and seventh straight over the Chargers.
The Cincinnati Bengals also went down 0-3 this season with a 24-27 defeat to the Green Bay Packers, losing in overtime when kicker Mason Crosby hit a 27-yard field goal.
And it was a fight to the end for the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks, in a game which boiled down to the final minutes, with the Titans eventually emerging victorious in a 33-27 win.
Super Bowl champions the New England Patriots avoided a second defeat of the season in dramatic fashion with a last-gasp 36-33 victory over the Houston Texans.
Trailing 33-28 with 30 seconds remaining, quarterback Tom Brady found Brandin Cooks in the end zone for the wide receiver's second touchdown of the game.
The Atlanta Falcons, who squandered a 28-3 lead against the Patriots in Super Bowl LI in February, maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with a hard-fought 30-26 win over the previously unbeaten Detroit Lions.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan threw three interceptions but also two touchdowns, while opposite number Matthew Stafford only completed 25 of his 45 attempted passes.
The Denver Broncos surrendered their 100 per cent record as they lost 26-16 on the road to the Buffalo Bills, while the Pittsburgh Steelers also suffered their first loss of the season against the Chicago Bears.
Jordan Howard ran in the winning touchdown from 19 yards in overtime.
The New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles were also heading to overtime until Jake Elliott kicked a 61-yard field goal as the clock expired to give the Eagles a 27-24 win, with Eli Manning's three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter proving in vain.
In Minnesota, Case Keenum produced a brilliant display in place of the injured Sam Bradford, passing for three touchdowns and a career-high 369 yards without a turnover to guide the Vikings to a 34-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
And it was also a tale of two quarterbacks in Carolina, where Cam Newton threw three interceptions and Drew Brees for three touchdowns as the New Orleans Saints cruised to a 34-13 win over the Panthers.
In a battle between two teams without a win, the Indianapolis Colts held off a late fightback from the Cleveland Browns to win 31-28, while the New York Jets also got off the mark with a 20-6 home win over the Miami Dolphins.
