Speaking as someone who actually goes to English games, I hear racist comments from individuals quite often. I've even sat next to someone who shouted the most ridiculous abuse at an Asian player I'd ever heard. You expect that from a minority, as you will have morons, and people drink a fair bit before they go to games.
You won't get large crowds of people doing it, because not only do ethnic minorities make up a part of that crowd but society treats racism as such a taboo subject. It's only the BNP sympathisers and general far right who might pipe up with the odd chant or comment. Still, things have progressed a lot since the 60s and 70s. So yes, England is miles ahead of many countries in that respect.
In terms of ethnic diversity in authority, it is quite ironic how the subject of the lack of black coaches and managers in England cropped up (again) before the Evra-Suarez and Terry-Ferdinand cases, and then the other spiral cases that emerged afterwards.