By Ewan Paton

THE Scottish FA are set to come down hard on 'football banter' in an attempt to get rid of homophobia in the sport.

Scottish football's governing body is hoping that the move will encourage more gay players to come out as a result. The SFA will increase their efforts to crack down on supporters, coaches and players who use such discriminatory slurs.

According to The Times, stadium announcements, pitch-side boards and programme advertisements will warn fans that anti-gay language is a hate crime and therefore illegal. The association have also come together with plans to support any players who chose to come out about their sexuality.

The only openly gay male footballer to have played in Scotland's professional leagues remains Justin Fashanu.

He played for Hearts and Airdrieonians in the Nineties but tragically took his life in 1998. Scotland women's internationals Nicola Docherty and Shannon Lynn have opened up about their sexualities. The SFA's Football v Homophobia campaign recognises that such discrimination still exists in Scotland on matchdays across the country. Read more via The Sun