Sport2 min(s) read
Published 14:51 05 Aug 2021 GMT
The Washington Football Team - formerly known as the Washington Redskins - has banned its fans from wearing Native American dress in its home stadium.
The NFL team said that it is one of many new changes being introduced to create the "best possible fan experience for all", as per BBC News.
Officials for the American football team announced on Wednesday, August 4, that it would be altering its dress code for the FedExField stadium in Maryland for the new season.
This comes after the team also opted to retire the Redskins name and logo back in July 2020.
The BBC reports that the decision to ban Native American dress comes after the team faced years of criticism from groups who found it offensive.
While they are "excited to welcome everyone back wearing their burgundy and gold", the team said in a statement that Native American costumes and paint "may no longer be worn into the stadium".
New rules were also introduced in light of the ongoing pandemic - including masks and cashless payments.
As per the New York Times, the team made the decision to drop its original Redskins name after widespread protests about ongoing racial injustice took place after the death of George Floyd last May.
The Washington Football Team, pictured below celebrating a touchdown last year, is not the first to make changes in light of societal views.
The Kansas City Chiefs, for example, said that while they would be keeping their original name, they would be retiring their mascot, Warpaint the horse.
Fawn Sharp, the president of the National Congress of American Indians, said the Washington Football Team’s name change was "welcome news, but long overdue."
"Native people have suffered the indignity and trauma of these dehumanizing fan rituals for decades," Sharp said in a statement. "N.C.A.I. will not rest until all professional, collegiate and K-12 school teams retire their Native 'themed' mascots - and the fan rituals that go with them - to the dustbin of history where they belong."
While the Washington Football Team has retired its old name, the Washington Post reports that it is not expected to announce a new one until the 2022 season.
The team revealed that it had received more than 39,000 submissions for new name suggestions including Cannons, the Thrushers, Red-Monster-Truck-Jam, and the Washington Wash Your Hands.
