A LEADING charity has urged football fans to stand united against racism ahead of the new season - after Celtic star Scott Sinclair was subject to more vile abuse.

Show Racism the Red Card, which is the UK’s leading anti-racism educational charity, issued the plea to football supporters ahead of the Scottish Premiership kicking off next month.

It comes after the Evening Times reported yesterday in the home delivery edition that the Celtic winger had been targeted again by a racist Twitter troll.

Cops launched a probe into the incident and the online attack, which said the player loved bananas and featured a monkey emoji, received a backlash from fans.

It is understood that several Celtic fans also reported the incident to Police Scotland.

Nicola Hay, Campaign Manager for Show Racism the Red Card, said: “The racist abuse that Scott Sinclair has been subjected to is not acceptable.

“There is no place for racism in Scottish Football or society.”

She added: “With the football season upon us fans must stand united against racism.

“At show Racism the Red Card we firmly believe that education is key in tackling racism in society and we will continue to do this through our work with schools, community groups and grassroots football groups.”

The 28-year-old footballer, who signed for the Hoops last August, has been at the brunt of several racists attacks on social media and at football matches since he moved to Glasgow from Aston Villa.

Sinclair, who dates and has a daughter with Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan, has previously took to social media to condemn the antics of racists, while his Hoops colleagues have backed him by sharing anti-racism messages.

He previously told The Evening Times: “It seems it will always be around with a minority of people - it’s always going to be there.

“For me there will always be people like that - I’ve got to carry on with my football and keep enjoying that.

“In football we want to kick it out because there’s no need for it. If any player goes through it you have to keep your head down and keep going on but you want it kicked out.”

Last season, Sinclair became an instant hit at Parkhead with the Celtic fans after he was voted Player of the Year and Player’s Player of the Year at Celtic’s Player of the Year Awards.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman confirmed that the force was investigating the latest incident.

She said: “The tweet has been passed to the relevant department to progress as appropriate.”

Previously several people have appeared in court to be sentenced for hate crimes towards the player.

Last week, The Evening Times reported that a racist banner making derogatory comments about Sinclair was hung on a Belfast bonfire ahead of the traditional ‘Eleventh Night’ celebrations.

Police in Northern Ireland said they were investigating the incident.

A banner with the words ‘Scott Sinclair loves bananas’ was festooned on a pyre in the car park of Avoniel Leisure Centre in the east of the Northern Irish capital.