FOOTBALL fans will show another side to the beautiful game as part of a scheme to welcome refugee players.

Global charity Amnesty International is hosting the annual Football Welcomes day and players, staff and supporters at Lewes FC will be taking part.

They will join more than 150 other clubs from non-league to professionals to highlight the role football clubs can play in helping refugees.

Amnesty says the number of clubs participating this year has trebled compared to last year.

Premier League players such as Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka and Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren are two examples of refugees now playing professionally.

The charity hopes to challenge headlines being made for the wrong reasons this season, which has seen an increase in racist and xenophobic incidents being reported on terraces.

Brighton and Hove Albion have taken action against visiting supporters linked to racist chants directed to Gaetan Bong during a match against Burnley. In other high-profile incidents, a banana was thrown at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang by a Spurs fan, while Chelsea have also faced a probe by Uefa.

Amnesty seeks to challenge the apparent rise in hatred in the stands.

Lewes FC will join the Football Welcomes scheme when they host AFC Hornchurch on Saturday at 3pm.