Referee Anthony Taylor Considers Quitting After Abuse at European Final

One of the top referees in the Premier League has revealed that after overseeing the Europa League final, he nearly walked away from officiating due to the hostile treatment he received. Taylor and his family faced aggressive abuse at Budapest airport from a mob of Roma supporters following the match.

After Roma’s defeat against Sevilla, tensions escalated when former Roma manager José Mourinho confronted Taylor in the stadium car park, loudly criticizing his decisions and calling him a “disgrace.” Despite Taylor’s insistence that he made no significant errors during the game, the backlash continued outside of the pitch.

As Taylor and his family tried to leave Budapest, they were surrounded by over a hundred angry fans. Security staff hurriedly moved him into a private room amid chaos, with supporters swearing and throwing objects, including a chair. Taylor described the incident as the most severe abuse he has faced, noting the emotional toll it took on him and his family, who have since stopped attending matches for safety reasons.

The officiar also reflected on the broader issues of conduct in football. “The culture of shouting verbal abuse at referees or young players is archaic and unacceptable,” he said. He criticized the result-focused mentality prevalent in the sport, where often individuals insult officials in hope of influencing decisions. Taylor compared this to the behavior at grassroots levels, emphasizing the need to challenge such practices to create a more positive environment for everyone involved.

During the final, Mourinho called Taylor bias against Roma, criticizing his disciplinary approach in multiple languages, which further intensified the heated atmosphere. Taylor highlighted the psychological impact of such hostility, acknowledging that it’s a common issue that spills down from elite competitions to community football.

Reflecting on the episode, Taylor expressed disappointment at the behavior directed at him and questioned whether traveling with his family was worth the risk, especially at major finals.