Former England captain Rio Ferdinand said football has done a lot to combat racism and that a wider problem exists in society as a whole.
Ferdinand's comments come one day after the Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation into a racially motivated incident on the Paris Metro after a group of alleged Chelsea fans were filmed preventing a black man from boarding a train.
In a series of tweets, the QPR defender called on society to help create a shift in perception.
1.The racist scene on the metro with the Chelsea fans-disgraceful behaviour obviously. But can football change this? Does it have the power?
- Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) February 19, 2015
2.Does football want to change this? Do the people in the game that hold the power really want to put the hard yards in to eradicate racism?
- Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) February 19, 2015
3.football has come a long way since the 70's & 80's but are we all guilty of becoming a bit complacent ??
- Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) February 19, 2015
4.Football has done a lot over the years to combat racism..but society has to do more to make change or is there too much hatred in society?
- Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) February 19, 2015
QPR boss Chris Ramsey says that the supporters are not true fans of football and wants the culprits to be weeded out.
Meanwhile, Chelsea's first-ever black player Paul Canoville said he was "embarrassed'' by the incident.
Posted on The Guardian website, the video, seen above shows a commuter trying to board a train in the French capital but is blocked by apparent supporters of the Blues travelling to the Parc des Princes for the 1-1 Champions League draw with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night.
The video also shows some chanting "We're racist and that's the way we like it," prompting a number of high-profile figures to condemn those involved while UK police are investigating the incident too.
Chelsea have vowed to support criminal prosecutions and ban any fans.
Recently appointed Hoops boss Ramsey, the only black manager in the Premier League, condemned the whole affair when questioned about it during his news conference ahead of Saturday's game at fellow strugglers Hull.
"I don't believe that they are Chelsea fans," he said. "I don't believe that they are fans of football.
"They are acting in a manner we all think is a thing of the past. I wouldn't be blaming Chelsea Football Club for that. If you have people with those views they are intrinsic in every day life.
"It would be good to know what the authorities are going to do to weed these people out and what sanctions they will enforce to make this an avoidable situation in the future. Had it not been caught on camera... it was probably something that was going on before, we can't look at it as a single situation, they were just caught at that time."
Ramsey, 52, distanced Chelsea from the incident having suffered from racist abuse since he first started out in the game.
"Chelsea is a massive club and do good things in the community and I feel sorry that they have been tarnished with this brush," he said.
"Sometimes you can't control what people do in their personal lives. As much as it is something that has happened in football, these are really social issues that manifest themselves in the real world.
"I started in 1978 so take from that what you may. Things were very, very different and through the '80s, '90s and up to now. Racism is not something that gets eradicated, it gets shuffled about and hidden in places you wouldn't believe.
"I have suffered from it, I don't want to go into the details. I don't want it to be about me, I want to focus on what happened in that situation in Paris so everyone shines a spotlight on that and that it doesn't happen again.
"It is a reminder that it is still there, I'm sure there are people trying their best to make sure it stays out of the public eye -- there are people with these views and we need to keep them away from the game."
Canoville, who played for the club from 1981 to 1986, said he was appalled by the footage.
"How would I have felt had I been standing in front of those 'fans' on the Paris Metro?'' said the 52-year-old in several national newspapers.
"Well, I can tell you, I would have loved to be in that position. I would have loved to stand up to those idiots, to tell them who I was, and see if they would do that to me. It might have been a different story then.
"That could have been me, they should have done that to me because they wouldn't recognise me so when I'd say to them, 'Hold on, do you know who I am?' What would their excuse be then?
"What would they have said? Where is the line drawn? He got pushed once, twice. He would have been scared, I would have been scared, but I know now that I'd say: 'Hang on, I'm Chelsea -- you're Chelsea, excuse me do you know who I am?' What would have developed right there?
"I was shocked as well as embarrassed and kind of ashamed when I heard it. When I saw that [the film] I was really amazed.''
Swansea boss Garry Monk backed Chelsea's reaction to events in France, indicating his club would react similarly in the circumstances.
"What I read from Chelsea and the statement they put out was quite right," said Monk. "They've got to verify whether they are true Chelsea supporters or members but Swansea would have the same stance on that.
"You can't tolerate that behaviour, it's not welcome in football or even in society and I think Swansea would take a similar stance to what Chelsea did if it happened here."
The man who was blocked from boarding the train has called for those involved to be jailed.