FOOTBALL chiefs and a number of clubs have signed up to a charity campaign to show their support for LGBT equality.

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) and Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) are among the organisations backing Stonewall Scotland's Rainbow Laces campaign this year.

The campaign aims to make sport more inclusive for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) fans and players by raising awareness of anti-LGBT abuse.

Research carried out in 2016 found 72% of football fans have heard anti-LGBT remarks at games over the last five years, Stonewall said.

All the Scottish clubs signed up to the project have not yet been named but the charity said "major" outfits are involved.

The campaign will run for a week later this month and will see clubs and players show their support in a variety of ways, including by wearing rainbow laces during matches. The rainbow is a widely-recognised symbol of LGBT pride.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: "We believe that everyone should feel welcome and included at football matches, whether they are playing or simply spectating.

"That is why we are giving our full backing to Stonewall Scotland and their Rainbow Laces campaign, and we are delighted so many of our clubs are planning demonstrations of support throughout the week.

"There is no place in sport for discrimination of any kind and we hope this campaign will lead to greater levels of tolerance and understanding."

An SFA spokesman said: "We are proud to support the Stonewall Rainbow Laces campaign and are committed to continuing our work with equality partners to understand and address any real or perceived barriers and challenges in the game to ensure that football in Scotland is inclusive and open to all."

The campaign week will run from November 24 to December 2 this year.

Colin Macfarlane, director of Stonewall Scotland, said: "We're delighted that Scottish football has shown such support for the campaign.

"Support from organisations like the SPFL, SFA and major clubs is critical in making sport inclusive for lesbian, gay, bi and trans fans and players.

"At the moment, many LGBT people want to take part in sport, either as players or fans, but the abuse and hate from a minority of fans can make them feel unsafe, unwelcome or unable to be themselves."