The Professional Footballers' Association is calling for a government inquiry following Chelsea's Premier League derby win at Tottenham Hotspur which was marred by alleged racist behaviour from the crowd during ugly scenes.
Spurs have vowed to investigate after Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger reported being targeted with monkey chants during the second half of his team's 2-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) said it was "dismayed and disgusted" at the claims of abuse in north London and pushed for a government inquiry.
"The PFA calls for a government inquiry into racism and the rise in hate crime within football, and immediate and urgent action," said the representative body.
It said football is part of British society - with the huge global audience that English football attracts, and "we have a responsibility to lead the way with a zero-tolerance policy".
"The PFA calls for a government inquiry into racism within football and encourage the establishment of an All-Party Group at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport."
Referee Anthony Taylor stopped the match during the second half after defender Antonio Rudiger, who plays for Chelsea, complained of hearing monkey noises.
Spurs has vowed to "take the strongest possible action" and will conduct a "thorough investigation."
An announcement was made over the ground's public address system warning that "racist behaviour is interfering with the game."
There were two further addresses over the public address system.
Sports Minister Nigel Adams confirmed he would be meeting with the club later today.
"Depressing to see today's events at White Hart Lane," he tweeted.
"I welcome Spurs investigation and will be speaking with the club's directors tomorrow.
"There is no place for racism or any kind of discrimination in football or anywhere else."
Labour said Premier League football clubs that failed to weed out racist fans should have to play at empty grounds.
Shadow sports minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan said: "Another instance of racism today. It wasn't acceptable during Eng vs Bulgaria and it's not acceptable now.
"If clubs don't find perpetrators they should play matches behind closed doors."
Tottenham MP David Lammy said he was "appalled to hear about racist incidents by Spurs fans" and urged for the culprits to be "punished".
Former England and Man Utd player Gary Neville said players should walk off the pitch if they heard racism emanating from the crowd.
He said: "We have just had an election in this country where both main parties and the leaders of both main parties are accused constantly over the last month of fuelling racism and accepting racism within their parties.
"If it is accepted at the highest office in the country, we are not talking about it at a micro level - we are talking about it at an absolutely enormous level, the highest office in the country.
"We maybe have to empower the players to walk off the pitch and stop the entertainment while it's happening because that's the only way I can see it changing."
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A spokesman for Tottenham Hotspur said: "Any form of racism is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our stadium."
The club said it would take the "strongest possible action" against fans found to have engaged in abuse, including bans from the newly-built £1 billion stadium.
The Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport has been contacted for comment.
Following scenes of racist chanting when England played Bulgaria in a World Cup qualifier overseas, Prime Minister branded the culprits "vile" and said such behaviour had "no place in football or anywhere else".
Tottenham Hotspur said any form of racism is "completely unacceptable" and "will not be tolerated in our stadium."
The club said it took any such allegations "extremely seriously and shall take the strongest possible action against any individual found to be behaving in such a way".
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