Anthony Taylor fue acosado por aficionados en un aeropuerto después de arbitrar la final de la Europa League 2023.Referee Anthony Taylor has revealed that he has seriously considered quitting refereeing due to the constant harassment and abuse he has suffered. In addition, he has shared that his family no longer attends high-profile matches due to an incident in which he was harassed by Roma fans at an airport.
Taylor, who has refereed two FA Cup finals and has been on the FIFA referees list for over a decade, spoke about the “archaic” culture that, according to him, surrounds football.
After being selected as one of the six English officials for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Taylor was appointed to the 2023 Europa League final between Sevilla and Roma in Budapest.
After a tense match at the Puskas Arena, where Sevilla finally defeated Roma in a penalty shootout, Taylor was accosted by fans at the airport while returning home. During the match, he showed 13 yellow cards.
Despite being considered one of the most prominent referees in the Premier League, Taylor believes that both he and other match officials have become an easy target for criticism.
There have certainly been times when you wonder if it’s worth it.
Anthony Taylor
Taylor went on to explain that there is an “archaic” psychological tactic of bombarding the referee or fourth official in the hope of getting a favorable decision.
After the 2023 Europa League final, images of the incident at Budapest airport were released. In the video, it can be seen how a chair and drinks were thrown in the direction of the English referee and his group, who were escorted to a safe area by airport security.
Taylor revealed that her family no longer attends major games.
“That is, without a doubt, the worst situation I have faced in terms of abuse,” he stated.
“Not only because I was traveling with members of my family at the time, but also because it highlights the impact of people’s behavior on others.”
“It makes you reflect on whether you made a mistake by traveling with your family in the first place.”
When asked if that meant his family no longer attends high-profile games, Taylor replied: “Yes, of course, they haven’t been to any since then.”
