Premier League referee Anthony Taylor has revealed he nearly walked away from football officiating after his family suffered vile abuse from fans at Budapest Airport following the 2023 Europa League final.
The English referee was the target of furious AS Roma supporters after their team lost to Sevilla in a dramatic penalty shootout. Emotions boiled over after then-manager José Mourinho confronted Taylor in the Puskás Arena car park, labelling him a “f*king disgrace” and accusing him of “bull* decisions.”
Videos later surfaced showing Taylor and his family being harassed and pelted with objects by Roma fans while trying to leave the Hungarian capital.
Speaking during an interview, Taylor described the incident as one of the darkest moments of his career.
“That’s for sure the worst situation I’ve dealt with in terms of abuse,” he said.
“Not only because I was travelling with family members at the time, but it also highlights the impact of people’s behaviour on others – and so yeah, there’s always scrutiny around big, high-profile matches.”
Taylor, 46, maintained that he made “no major mistakes” during the final and has since continued to officiate at the top level, including UEFA Champions League and Premier League fixtures.
The incident reignited calls within football for stronger protections for referees and stricter sanctions against managers or fans who incite abuse.
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