UK gay rights activists slam sexual-innuendo laden rainbow-laces campaign in football

Gay rights activists in the UK have reportedly hit out at the anti-homophobia campaign to get footballers to wear rainbow laces in support of gay footballers, saying that it is a "disgusting sexual innuendo".

British footballers, including Peter Odemwingie and Phil Jagielka, were set to wear the laces this week as part of the push by gay rights charity Stonewall, whose slogan is "Right Behind Gay Players".

According to the Daily Star, however, another campaign, called "Football v Homophobia" has slammed the scheme's motto, saying that the language is a "disgusting sexual innuendo" and "reinforces the very stereotypes and caricatures that ensure homophobia persists".

However, Stonewall has dismissed the criticism, saying that the slogan allowed it to connect with the "ordinary football fan".