Charity wants to raise anti-bigotry drive among Scotland's football clubs

An anti-sectarian organisation has launched a bid to become the Scottish Professional Football League's (SPFL) first charity partner.

Nil By Mouth applied for the status after the SPFL invited charities to work with Scotland’s 42 football clubs.

In its bid Nil By Mouth said it would offer free awareness training to players, staff, officials and supporters groups, as well as sessions for schools and youth projects in partnership with clubs and marketing campaigns at high-profile matches.

The charity's campaign director, Dave Scott, said a third of all arrests for sectarian behaviour were related to football matches and a partnership could help promote football as a positive voice in the anti-sectarian campaign.

He said: “Sectarianism has always presented a challenge to the game in Scotland.

"That is why we want to work with the SPFL to create positive change and improve Scottish football's reputation and the matchday experience for tens of thousands of supporters.

"The League's call for a charity partnership presents us with an exciting opportunity to help clubs provide solutions to these problem and an opportunity for the vast majority of decent football fans to find their voice on this issue."