Cesc Fabregas hopes the indefensible discriminatory behaviour of some Chelsea supporters can highlight the issue to help eradicate it in football and beyond.

Chelsea and the Metropolitan Police opened investigations after alleged racist abuse was directed at Manchester City‘s Raheem Sterling by a section of home supporters during last Saturday’s match at Stamford Bridge. Four Blues fans were subsequently suspended.

However, minutes into the Blues’ next game – Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Vidi in Budapest’s Groupama Arena, which was drawn 2-2 – a vocal minority of Chelsea supporters were heard singing a derogatory chant about Tottenham supporters.

Anti-discrimination leaders have joined Chelsea in strongly criticising the chanting, which UEFA will investigate, and Fabregas joined the condemnation.

“If we have to be taught a lesson at Chelsea to improve whatever happens around the world, then I’m happy,” midfielder Fabregas said.

“But to point the finger at one football club because of three or four of these people, I don’t think it’s deserved and I don’t agree with that. The focus now is on Chelsea for what happened. Unfortunately if we look around carefully all over the world, all sports, all football clubs, we will find things like that.

“It’s true it happened this (past) weekend, we cannot deny that, but to point the finger at one football club because of that I think it’s really unfair. There’s an investigation, the club is dealing with this very, very well. Whatever needs to be done will be done. I’ve no doubt about that.

“When we cross the line with racism, it’s too far, shouldn’t be allowed. The people that got caught, they will be punished and they will be taught a big lesson in their lives. The quicker we get rid of these people, the better. This is not the real face of Chelsea.”

Even if the police find there is not enough evidence to pursue criminal convictions in the abuse of Sterling, Chelsea’s threshold for offences is lower, so the four suspended individuals could see their bans remain in place.

Identifying any individuals involved in the chanting in Budapest could prove difficult, as, although Chelsea have details for all their 1,200 supporters via their European away ticket scheme, CCTV coverage of the stadium was poor.