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Steven Seagal has labelled NFL knee protests outrageous, a joke and disgusting in an extraordinary interview.
The Hollywood actor hit out at football players who used the televised US national anthem as a political platform, branding it an outrage.
Athletes have been kneeling in solidarity before games in a trend started by Colin Kaepernick, who said: 'I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people, and people of color.'
It prompted the US President Donald Trump this week to condemn those defying the anthem and Seagal, 65, defended his country's leader, accusing Washington 'Obama-ites' of trying to overthrow him.
After a wave of players took a knee in a movement gathering momentum in the US, former reserve deputy with sheriff's offices in Louisiana and Arizona Seagal said: 'I guess really what I'd like to say is this, I believe in free speech, I believe that everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but I don't agree that they should hold the United States of America or the world hostage by taking a venue where people are tuning in to watch a football game and imposing their political views.
'I think it's outrageous, I think it's a joke, it's disgusting. I respect the American flag.
'I myself have risked my life countless times for the American flag and I don't understand or agree with this kind of behavior. I think it's an outrage.'
The kneeling protest, which first came to light 13 months ago before picking up pace and spreading into other sports such as baseball, has irked Trump.