A university has banned four of its football teams from training or playing after dozens of students blacked their faces up for a themed event at a local bar.

The controversial actions of the Stirling University students have been condemned by anti-racism campaigners and fellow students after they emerged yesterday.

Around 30 students from Stirling University's football society were on a night out in the city's centre when photographs of them were taken of them wearing football kits and with their faces blacked up.

It is thought they were in town for the social event, themed on the African Cup of Nations football tournament, on Thursday night.

The university launched an investigation after it was notified that photographs were circulating of the students with their blackened faces.

An anti-racism campaigner described the practice as unacceptable.

Conor Fitzpatrick, a second year student who witnessed the incident told the university's student newspaper, The Tab: "They are not only embarrassing us, the student body, in front of our peers and the local community but also on a national level."

Another man, who saw the incident, Jim MacIvor, added that the incident happened at the Cape bar. He said: "I saw 30 to 40 blacked up footballers having a drink.

"They were just socialising, normal stuff. I happened to be in the flat across the road from Cape and I saw them leave around 11.30-11.45pm.

"They were being quite boisterous - they were quite drunk - and some of them were taking their tops off and stuff like that."

It is thought that some other people confronted the students over their blacked up look.

Prior to the incident, a tweet on the Stirling University Football Club account had made no mention of their plans. It had simply urged people to 'grab a ticket' as the football club 'do the best nights.'

A Show Racism the Red Card spokesman said: "The practice of blacking up was usually as part of a show by white entertainers for white audiences which relied on mocking black people's skin colour and culture.

"The practice is racist and should definitely be avoided in our more enlightened times."

Second year footballer Joe Mullen said: "I've nothing to say on the matter. Everything is getting blown out of proportion.

"I've nothing else to say, sorry."

But some members of the faculty defended the controversial choice of dress.

Student Daniel Shields read: "To insinuate that the football club, one of the most inclusive sports clubs at the university is racist in any way is a farce and a lie.

"I assume every time anyone dresses up as a non-white individual at Halloween, socials etc there will be similar articles.

"Will that include the Hulk, Smurfs and characters for the Simpsons too?"

In a statement, a spokesman for Stirling University said it was aware of a incident involving a number of students on Thursday night.

He added: "An investigation has been launched with immediate effect. The university and the Students' Union are committed to promoting equality and diversity, through a range of policies, procedures and initiatives, and believe all staff, students and members of wider society should be treated with dignity and respect.

"The university treats issues relating to racism with the utmost seriousness and will respond robustly to any behaviours that do not meet with our values and expectations."

Students have previously been involved in a sexism row after footage appeared online.

In November 2013, Stirling University launched an investigation after members of members of the hockey club drank beer and shouted derogatory chants while other passengers, including women, looked on awkwardly.

Footage showed 15 students laughing at a joke about miscarriages, and other sexually inappropriate material.

At the time, the university said it was investigating further and took incidents of such a nature very seriously.