Before kick-off this weekend players from every Bank of Scotland Premierleague and Bell's Football League team in Scotland will be united in calling for a racism-free football and society. Players in 35 European countries are involved in similar events as part of the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network against racism and discrimination.

SRTRC would like to thank supporters for the excellent support the campaign has had since we set up office in Scotland two years ago. That support is producing real results including a significant decrease in the number of reports of racist abuse in Scottish football stadia over the last year. We have heard of many instances where real supporters have turned on racist fans making it clear that they are not welcome at the club. Clubs themselves have also been crucial in imposing bans for racist fans who won't take heed.

Sadly, however, racism continues to rise in Scottish society, including a 70% increase in attacks on Scottish Muslims since events in London in July. Scotland is now one of the ten most racist areas of the UK in terms of recorded racist incidents per head of population. The reality behind these statistics is the destruction of thousands of individual lives.

Show Racism the Red Card is calling for a concerted effort to make racist abuse as unacceptable in Scottish society as it has become in professional football. Almost everyone now accepts that racism at games is wrong. What is the difference between racism in football and racism in society?

Here's a brief outline of what's taking place during the SRTRC Fortnight of Action this year:

· fans organisations from ten clubs have organized additional actions at games and in their local communities
· anti-racist presentations at Hibernian FC, Dundee United FC and Hearts FC
· over 100 projects taking place in communities nationwide using the vehicle of football to combat racism in Scottish society (funded by 'One Scotland', the Scottish Executive)
· 175,000 squad posters distributed to young supporters of every SPL and SFL 1st division club
· new SRTRC Scotland anti-racist video and education pack going to every school in Scotland

Football is a sport that is followed by all, and should be an enjoyable experience for all, whatever their racial or religious background. We hope you enjoy the game this weekend and ask you to support the players action before kick-off.

We all have a part to play in kicking racism out of Scotland.

Roddy McNulty, Campaign coordinator, Show Racism the Red Card (Scotland).

If you see or hear racism at any level of football, please report it to stewards or police, and record the complaint at www.theredcardscotland.org
The new website also includes updates on Fortnight of Action events and more information on the 'red card' campaign in Scotland.

David Ginola.

“Have you experienced racism?
There is a lot of racism in every country, especially in football. I had a friend who played as a goalkeeper in a French team. When we played at a certain ground it was terrible for him, they said that he should go and eat bananas. There is no reason to say something like that because everybody is really the same.”

Do you have a message against racism?
“It's just a question of education, especially for the young people. If everyday you hear something like your father saying 'I hate blacks', one day the kid will say the same thing. If the parents say that everybody is free and everybody is equal the children will eventually say 'I love everybody'. It's the adults who have to give the good examples for everybody.”

Shaka Hislop. Portsmouth and Trinidad and Tobago

As someone who has lived all around the world, can you relate to asylum seekers?
“It's difficult for them. A lot more difficult than we are willing to understand or accept. They have come to a new culture and there is obviously a culture shock so they need to acclimatise and adjust.

You have to get to know these people and find out a lot more about them and about their background. Keep in mind that these are people that come from war torn countries that have witnessed or experienced horrific personal abuse.”

“My father would always say I should show every man the utmost respect. So I try and do that whether it is a team mate, a tea lady or someone playing in the streets. I find that when you do that, people respect you back equally and that gives you a warm feeling.”

Moustapha Hadji. Aston Villa and Morocco

“Have you ever experienced any racism?
Yes, when I was in France I felt it and when I was in Spain I felt it as well, but not really in Portugal or in England. I think they are people who don't have the ability to see what is happening in other countries. People need to get to know each other - you have bad people everywhere. Some people never look beyond their own country, their minds aren't open.”

How did you cope with that?
“When I was in France, because I grew up there, it upset me a lot. At the end of the day you've just got to carry on and try to forget about it. I feel sick for these people, because they upset me. Just try to forget about it and move on, be strong. And to these people - do more than them, do better than them.”

Patrick Kluivert. Newcastle and The Netherlands

“Amsterdam where you were born, is a multicultural city so was there racism in school?
Yes there was some racism in school, but I tried not to hear it. There are always few people who are racist. It's something you have to take, it can make you get aggressive when you really don’t want to. “

What do you think makes somebody racist?
“Maybe their background. People may encourage them to do that sort of thing. Most of the time it's small groups of people, it is a pity because it's very small minded. I hope in the future racism is going to go away. “

The person giving the racism, your message to them?

“Do not do it, just do not do it. Because no one gets better from it. “