An Italian fan was arrested after Roma supporters accosted referee Anthony Taylor at Budapest airport in the wake of Wednesday’s Europa League Final.
Taylor was travelling home yesterday when he and his family were surrounded by angry supporters.
Footage of the shocking scenes went viral on social media and show a chair being thrown in the direction of Taylor and his family as they were escorted to a lounge.
An airport spokesperson told Standard Sport: “Fans of Roma recognised the referee in the food court, where he was waiting for his flight to depart.
Referee Anthony Taylor, getting attacked at the airport by Roma fans.
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) June 1, 2023
This is absolutely disgusting to see, wow! pic.twitter.com/q9g23LrBu3
“Thanks to the airport operator’s close cooperation with the police and the increased police presence at the airport during the arrival and departure of the fans, the authorities intervened immediately and the referee was escorted to a lounge and boarded his flight safely, accompanied by police officers.
“The Italian citizen involved in the incident was apprehended by the police and criminal proceedings have been initiated on charges of affray.”
Refereeing body PGMOL said it is appalled by “unjustified and abhorrent” abuse directed at Taylor.
The referee had already been on the end of a verbal attack from losing Roma boss Jose Mourinho in the stadium car park after the game.
A UEFA statement added: “UEFA vehemently condemns violent behaviour directed towards its referee Anthony Taylor and his family. Such actions are unacceptable and undermine the spirit of fair play and respect that UEFA upholds.
“Referees play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity and fairness of the game, and their safety and well-being are of utmost importance. UEFA stands firm in its commitment to creating a safe and respectful environment for all participants, including referees, and will not tolerate any form of violent behaviour towards them.
“We urge all players, coaches, and fans to embrace the values of sportsmanship, treat referees with dignity and respect, and join us in upholding the highest standards of conduct on and off the pitch.
“UEFA maintains a close collaboration with local police and airport security starting from the referees' arrival in host cities. However, we are constantly striving to enhance the security measures for officials in coordination with local authorities. We will carefully assess the incidents and incorporate valuable insights into our future event planning processes.”
