Premier League stars reveal racism and homophobia is rife in the game

The first ever mass consultation with players across all four tiers of English football, conducted by campaigners Kick It Out, has revealed that racism and homophobia is rife in the game.

Views from players across the Barclays Premier League and the Sky Bet Football League have uncovered damning statistics about the game in this country.

It is well-known that racism and homophobia is still hurled from the stands at games.

Signing: Former Charlton midfielder Paul Mortimer has joined Kick It Out campaign

More than 50 per cent admit to having seen racist abuse in stadiums and almost a quarter of them have been subjected to it.

But alarmingly one in five claim they have witnessed it in the changing room and on the training ground.

Kick It Out have enlisted former Charlton midfielder Paul Mortimer to work with players from every club in the country to tackle the problems.

Premier League stars including Romelu Lukaku and Nathan Redmond have also started working with the organisation.

Mortimer, 45, insists that the issues have improved since he played in the late 80s and 90s when fruit was sold outside grounds to throw at players and he was subjected to abuse from his own team-mates as well as opponent players.

Right direction: Mortimer say things have improved since he was a player

Mortimer said: 'If you pick any club in the country, any stadium or training ground, everything in a club has moved on.

'But some of the discriminatory vocabulary used is from a bygone era. This kind of of mentality is still in the dark ages. It has to move on.

'We're in a prime position to assist players with that.

'Sometimes players don't even realise they're doing it. It comes under that broad context of "banter."

'People will look at those percentages and say they are high. The good thing is that players are confident in reporting it. There is a lot of work ahead to bring these numbers down.'

Every single Premier and Football League club was contacted to take part and 200 current players anonymously provided their views.

Support: Everton striker Romelu Lukaku has joined the campaign

The responses also revealed that more than 50 per cent believe there is an issue with the lack of black and minority ethnic managers and coaches, almost 40 per cent have witnessed homophobia in the stadiums and a quarter have seen homophobia on the training ground or in the changing room.

The Premier League and Football League are both working with Kick It Out.

The Premier League are also training stewards in how to report abuse and are working with fan groups to cut down illegal discriminatory chants.

Influence: Norwich's Nathan Redmond is another player working with the organisation

A spokesman said: 'While unacceptable attitudes continue to be held by a minority in society the Premier League will continue to work towards eliminating discriminatory abuse from our grounds.'

A Football League spokesman added: ' We will discuss these results in more detail with Kick It Out and the other football authorities so that they can assist our ongoing efforts to tackle any form of discrimination in English football.'

The Football Association have also produced short films to let people know how to report abuse.