Premier League referee Anthony Taylor has opened up about the torrent of abuse he suffered from fans and believes José Mourinho’s actions directly contributed to it.
In a revealing interview with BBC Sport, Taylor reflected on the ugly scenes that followed the 2023 Europa League final in Budapest, when angry Roma supporters hurled insults at him and his family at the airport.
The incident came after Mourinho publicly confronted and branded him a “disgrace” following Roma’s penalty shootout loss to Sevilla, an outburst that earned the Portuguese coach a four-match ban.
“That’s the worst situation I’ve dealt with in terms of abuse. Not only because I was travelling with family members at the time, but it also highlights the impact of people’s behaviour on others,” Taylor recalled.
UEFA bans Jose Mourinho for abusing referee Anthony Taylor
He added that there were “no major mistakes” in the match and expressed frustration at what he felt was an attempt to “shift focus on to somebody to blame.”
When asked if Mourinho’s behaviour could have influenced the fans who abused him, Taylor admitted: “Yeah. I think if we’re being honest, yeah.”
Taylor says his family hasn’t attended a single game since, citing the trauma of that experience.
Watch the interview below:
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