Our fans not just to blame

done. I’ve no doubt about that. I don’t know who is responsible for these things but, once again, I cannot accept or I cannot agree with this. This happens to all football clubs.

“There’s always insults – I’ve had so many of them over the years when you warm up, and even jokes. That’s fine for me.

“When we cross the line with racism, it’s too far, it shouldn’t be allowed.

“The people that get caught, they will be punished and they will be taught a big lesson in their lives. I hope this will help for many other reasons in life. I don’t want that image anywhere.”

UEFA are awaiting match referee Aleksandar Stavrev’s report before deciding on taking action.

The offenders had been called out by fellow Chelsea fans using social media to draw attention to a derogatory song aimed at rivals Tottenham.

Fear

While two of the men caught on camera abusing Sterling have come forward to deny using racist language, Chelsea fear a lack of CCTV will hamper their bid to identify those involved in the antisemitic chanting.

Fabregas says he would have no problem with Chelsea’s issues being used to address a wider problem across Europe.

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

Police are investigating last Saturday’s incident as a possible hate crime.

Fabregas played in the 2-2 draw with Vidi on Thursday and ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Brighton, he said: “All I can say is when I’m in the street, when I’m at Stamford Bridge, all over the world when we’ve travelled with Chelsea they’ve been amazing to me and to the team.

“This is not the real face of Chelsea. 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.”