Joey Barton: 'Casual verbal homophobia still rife among fans and players'

Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton has praised those who supported the recent Rainbow Laces campaign, but believes that "casual verbal homophobia" continues to be a problem.

The 32-year-old has been heavily involved in campaigns encouraging gay footballers to come out, while a number of Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, teamed up with charity Stonewall to lend their support.

Barton took to his official website to praise the Rainbow Laces initiative, which involved numerous players wearing laces on their boots over the September 13 weekend, but the midfielder remains concerned over "casual" homophobic comments.

He wrote: "Casual verbal homophobia is still rife in the stands. Pull out of a tackle and you're a 'poof'. Overplay an injury and you're told to stop 'acting like a fucking queer'. And I'll be honest, it isn't just the fans. Players use the same type of language on the pitch and on the training ground.

"It's this off-the-cuff linguistic intolerance and thoughtlessness that makes the football industry in general, and football stadiums specifically, so intimidating for LGBT fans.

"I can't imagine a gay couple feeling so comfortable at the acceptance of the football community that they'd be happy to wander down Wembley Way hand in hand, can you?"

There are currently no openly gay footballers playing in the Premier League.