Every professional football player in Britain has been sent a pair of rainbow-patterned shoelaces to promote a campaign to end homophobia in football.

Stonewall, the Gay Football Supporters' Network and bookmaker Paddy Power have relaunched the Rainbow Laces campaign for a second season ahead of next weekend's round of matches.

Former Aston Villa and Everton player Thomas Hitzlsperger, who came out as gay earlier this year, said: "I'm proud to be working with Stonewall on the Rainbow Lace campaign.

"I want to show that being gay and a professional footballer is something that's normal. The perceived contradiction between playing football, the man's game, and being homosexual is nonsense."

Meanwhile, several members of Arsenal's squad feature in an advert that will run alongside the campaign:

Hundreds of players wore the laces as part of the inaugural campaign last year, including Queens Park Rangers' Joey Barton and Everton defender Leighton Baines.