Anthony Taylor: Is it worth refereeing? Reflections on the abuse

Referee Anthony Taylor has revealed that he has seriously considered quitting refereeing due to the constant harassment and abuse he has suffered. Taylor, who has been a renowned referee in the Premier League and with international experience, shared his experiences and reflections on the current football culture.

A Crossed Limit

The referee has admitted that he has had moments of doubt about whether to continue in refereeing, feeling that the criticisms received are often unfair. Taylor was the referee in the 2023 Europa League final between Sevilla and Roma, a match that ended with incidents at the airport. After the match, Taylor and his family were harassed by Roma fans.

There are times when you ask yourself: ‘ Is it worth it?’

Anthony Taylor

The referee described the situation as the worst experience of abuse he has faced, especially because it involved his family. As a result, his family no longer attends important matches. Taylor has been the subject of criticism, and has highlighted the impact of people’s behavior on others. Taylor has been the referee for the FA Cup final twice, in 2017 and 2020, and has been on the FIFA referees list for over a decade. He was selected as one of the six English officials for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.