The new tsar will work with football clubs and schools

Communities Minister Margaret Curran confirmed the Scottish Executive had pledged �75,000 to the project over the next three years.

The charity post will involve work with clubs and schools and is also being funded by Uefa and the Scottish Football Association (SFA).

Those behind the move hope the concept may be used to address the wider problem of sectarianism in the game.

Newcastle-based charity Show Racism the Red Card will be advertising the post within the next few weeks.

This will provide a tremendous boost Margaret Curran Communities minister

Mrs Curran said: "This will provide a tremendous boost for this high-profile campaign and enable it to promote anti-racism work with clubs, players, schools and youth groups across Scotland," she said.

But Bill Aitken MSP questioned whether the post would make a real difference.

He said: "The fact of the matter is, this is just another time when public money is being used for one of those politically correct notions that the executive follows from time to time.

"Of course we all condemn racism in sport and we recognise it's a problem down south but I don't think its the most pressing issue in Scottish football."

An SFA spokesman said: "It is still evident that across Scotland racist abuse from individuals is something that needs to be tackled. It is still prevalent at large and small grounds."

Life ban

Last December, First Minister Jack McConnell launched a plan to target sectarianism and called for "Scotland's secret shame" to be addressed in the courts and at football grounds.

A cross-party report recommended the introduction of a law to make religious hatred an aggravated offence.

The 12-point plan also called on football clubs to take action against fans for sectarian behaviour, including the possibility of life bans from games.

Show Racism the Red Card was founded in 1996 and uses professional footballers as role models to highlight the problem.

The charity's work has been endorsed by Celtic striker Henrik Larsson and Manchester United stars Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand.