Premier League referee Anthony Taylor and his family have become the targets of disgusting abuse and threatening behaviour following the controversial Europa League final, The Independent can reveal.
The experienced English official, who regularly takes charge of top-flight matches, faced a terrifying ordeal at Budapest Airport where enraged Roma supporters surrounded him and his family, hurling abuse and objects.
Airport Chaos and Family Threats
Shocking footage emerged showing Taylor being escorted through the airport terminal while aggressive fans shouted insults and threw chairs and bottles in his direction. The situation escalated to the point where airport staff had to form a protective barrier around the referee and his loved ones.
Taylor's family, who had attended the final to support him, were caught in the middle of the disturbing scenes, leaving them visibly shaken and fearful for their safety.
Controversial Final Decisions
The abuse stems from Roma's 4-1 penalty shootout defeat to Sevilla after a 1-1 draw in Budapest. Roma manager Jose Mourinho launched a furious tirade against Taylor after the match, criticising several key decisions that went against his team.
Mourinho was captured shouting expletives at Taylor in the stadium car park, further inflaming tensions among disappointed Roma supporters.
Football Community Condemns Abuse
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) released a strong statement supporting Taylor, emphasising that such treatment of officials and their families is completely unacceptable.
UEFA is now facing mounting pressure to address the growing trend of abuse directed at match officials, with many questioning whether enough is being done to protect those who officiate high-stakes European fixtures.
This incident raises serious concerns about the safety of referees and their families when travelling to and from matches, particularly after controversial decisions in emotionally charged fixtures.
