A campaign to tackle homophobic,??? ??? ?? biphobic and transphobic attitudes in sport has revealed that almost three-quarters of British football fans have heard anti-LGBTQ remarks at games over the last five years.
SEE ALSO: Member of the royal family comes out as gay and makes historyThe study, commissioned by Stonewall as part of the Rainbow Laces campaign, also found out that one in five 18- to 24-year-olds said they would be embarrassed if their favourite player came out.
Young people are also twice as likely to say anti-LGBTQ language is harmless if it’s just meant as "banter".
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"While the majority of people see homophobic chants and abuse as a problem, and want to see sport become more welcoming of lesbian gay, bi and trans players and fans, there is a persistent minority who believe this sort of abuse is acceptable," Ruth Hunt, Stonewall's chief executive, said.
"These vocal few may be under the illusion that anti-LGBT language is harmless but it makes lesbian, gay, bi and trans fans and players feel unsafe, unwelcome and unable to be themselves."
"We need high-profile sports clubs and personalities to stand up as allies and help make sport everyone's game by showing that homophobic abuse has no place in sport."
The research also showed some encouraging trends.
The majority of football fans (88 percent) said they would be either "proud" or "neutral" if their favourite player came out as gay. Most people also thought that offensive language directed at LGBTQ people in sport is a problem.
The rainbow laces on the boots of David Stockdale of Fulham. Credit: Corbis via Getty Images In the Premier League, Arsenal was singled out as an example of a club who wholeheartedly supported the Rainbow Laces initiative, which calls on players and professional teams to wear rainbow-coloured laces during games.
Only a few professional footballers have come out in the UK. Thomas Hitzlesperger, a German midfielder who played for Aston Villa, came out after his retirement.