Referee Anthony Taylor was subject to disgraceful abuse as he boarded a flight home from the Europa League final in Budapest.
Roma fans were filmed hurling abuse and objects at the English official, 44, and his family after he had overseen the Italian club’s defeat to Sevilla on penalties.
Eight yellow cards were handed to the Giallorossi players and staff, including coach Jose Mourinho, during the game which was constantly dragged out by injury stoppages and gamesmanship.
Mourinho was seen abusing Taylor in the car park after Wednesday night’s game in footage that went viral on social media.
Grazie papà di avermi fatto laziale ! pic.twitter.com/8YGcUdyKi7
— momo (@momo50SSL) June 1, 2023
Anthony Taylor, the referee of the Europa League final, was attacked by Roma supporters at Budapest airport. 🧐
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) June 1, 2023
Shocking. 😠
pic.twitter.com/u5dmlxZs0h
The 60-year-old had said post-match: “It was an intense, vibrant game with a referee who seemed Spanish. It was yellow, yellow, yellow all the time.”
Roma director Tiago Pinto echoed Mourinho’s sentiment by calling into question Taylor’s “balance”.
“We at AS Roma do not want to doubt the merits of Sevilla, we believe that with our opponents we played a great final, honouring the spotlight that UEFA offered us,” he told news agency ANSA.
“We are not accustomed to commenting on this type of situation in the heat of the moment, but today we analysed both the most obvious incidents and those that were less evident, and it is clear that the officiating in terms of disciplinary action was not balanced.”
Jose Mourinho waited outside to call Anthony Taylor a 'f*cking crook' 😳 pic.twitter.com/0BrQfTZL9x
— GOAL (@goal) June 1, 2023
UK referees body PGMOL released a statement on Thursday night offering their support to Premier League referee Taylor and his family.
A statement read: “PGMOL is aware of videos circulating on social media showing Anthony Taylor and his family being harassed and abused at Budapest Airport.
“We are appalled at the unjustified and abhorrent abuse directed at Anthony and his family as he tries to make his way home from refereeing the UEFA Europa League final.
“We will continue to provide our full support to Anthony and his family.”
