Red balls will be used in Europe's three major leagues in England, Spain and Italy to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS.

In a unified show of support for Nike's global initiative called 'Lace Up. Save Lives', Barclays Premier League, Spain's La Liga and Italy's Serie A will use a red ball at all home games this weekend.

Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of the Premier League, said: "The Premier League has enormous global appeal and we are committed to using our reach to raise awareness of this partnership between, Nike, one of our longest serving commercial partners, and (RED)."

"A red ball and red laces are simple ideas, but sometimes those are the best - the hope is that the profile given through this and the money raised through ‘Lace Up, Save Lives' will provide significant impetus and funding to the Global Fund's activities to aid the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Africa," he said.

The Nike and (RED) partnership invites people to ‘Lace Up. Save Lives' by purchasing a pair of laces. 100% of the profits from laces is split equally between The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which funds AIDS programs that provide medicine, treatment and services for those living with HIV, and football-based community initiatives that deliver education and understanding around HIV/AIDS prevention.