Premier League referee Anthony Taylor reveals he keeps family away from matches over abuse concerns

Premier League referee, Anthony Taylor revealed that his family no longer attends high-profile football matches because of the relentless barrage of abuse he constantly receives.

In an interview with BBC Sport, the British official discussed the “worst situation” he had encountered, which occurred when he and his family were harassed by angry Roma fans following the 2023 Europa League final in Budapest. Roma lost the ill-tempered game to Sevilla on penalties, a match during which Taylor issued 13 yellow cards.

The fallout was immediate: then-Roma manager Jose Mourinho harshly criticized Taylor in his post-match press conference before confronting him in the car park with a foul-mouthed rant, labeling the referee’s performance a “disgrace.”

Mourinho was subsequently banned for four matches by UEFA. The following day, Taylor was targeted by the club’s supporters at an airport, where a chair and drinks were thrown in his direction before he was quickly escorted to safety.

Taylor, 46, stated that the incident highlighted the impact of abuse on others.

“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. It makes you reflect back on whether you made a mistake travelling with your family in the first place.”

The official, who also worked at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, added that the introduction of VAR has increased pressure on match officials.

He noted that the scrutiny around Premier League football creates a “quest for perfection” which “doesn’t exist” in reality, resulting in an expectation for referees to “get every decision right.”

While Taylor admitted there have been moments where he questioned, “Is it worth it?” and felt what was being said was “completely unfair,” he ultimately confirmed that he still loves the job, calling it “one of the best jobs in the world” because it puts him “right in the centre of the action in the most exciting league in the world.”