Racist former Southampton FC steward is banned from the club for posting ‘whites are superior’

An ex-Premier League steward has been handed a lifetime ban from Southampton FC after declaring: ‘We whites ARE the superior race’.

Beryl Saunders, 67, a retired nurse who once worked at the club, has been banished from the grounds after the racist rant on Facebook.

Officials said the Saints season ticket holder had left them ‘absolutely stunned’ with her ‘vitriol and hateful views’ and had refused to apologise or undergo racial awareness training, leaving them no choice but to ban her, reports The Mirror. 

Ms Saunders, who worked as a steward until 1997, shared the comment alongside a picture of far-right activist Tommy Robinson and Burnley fan Jake Hepple.

Beryl Saunders, 67, a retired nurse who once worked at the club, has been banished from the grounds after a racist rant on Facebook

In a recent anti-Black Lives Matter stunt Mr Hepple claimed to have organised a plane to fly a ‘White Lives Matter’ banner over the Ethiad Stadium in Manchester before a Premier League Burnley vs. Manchester City match on June 22.

Her comment read: ‘This man deserves a pat on the back [Hepple], what’s he got to apologise for ffs. Lets put up a statue, don’t apologise for being white. We whites are the superior race’. 

A source at Southampton FC told The Mirror: ‘We wanted to try and find a way to educate her. But what followed was shocking. She told us that she did not want to return to the club, which is fine.’ 

Speaking to The Mirror, Ms Saunders vowed to never return to the club calling it offensive that footballers knelt on the ‘hallowed turf’ in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Ms Saunders, who worked as a steward until 1997, shared the post (top) alongside a picture of far-right activist Tommy Robinson (right) and Burnley fan Jake Hepple (left)

She continued to spout racism claiming slavery gave people ‘jobs and a roof over their heads’ and that Winston Churchill said Britons were ‘the best race’, reports the publication.  

In addition to taking a knee before games, all Premier League players have worn the words Black Lives Matter on the back on their shirts and a logo on the sleeve to show support for the movement. 

BLM protests erupted worldwide following the death of George Floyd, 46, who died after police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee on his neck for nine minutes in Minneapolis in the US on May 25.  

Mr Hepple’s aerial display reading ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’ appeared to mock the movement, which is fighting against racism. 

A Burnley spokesman said: ‘Burnley Football Club strongly condemns the actions of those responsible for the aircraft and offensive banner that flew over The Etihad Stadium on Monday evening (June 22).

Ms Saunders continued to spout racism claiming slavery gave people ‘jobs and a roof over their heads’

The private plane crossed the sky above the stadium just moments after both Burnley and Manchester players took a knee to show their support for Black Lives Matter on June 22

Jake Hepple, a Burnley local, claimed responsibility for the stunt sharing a video of the plane to his Facebook along with a refusal to apologise

‘We wish to make it clear that those responsible are not welcome at Turf Moor. This, in no way, represents what Burnley Football Club stands for and we will work fully with the authorities to identify those responsible and issue lifetime bans.

‘The club has a proud record of working with all genders, religions and faiths through its award-winning Community scheme, and stands against racism of any kind. 

‘We are fully behind the Premier League’s Black Lives Matter initiative and, in line with all other Premier League games undertaken since Project Restart, our players and football staff willingly took the knee at kick-off at Manchester City.

‘We apologise unreservedly to the Premier League, to Manchester City and to all those helping to promote Black Lives Matter.’