Anthony Taylor Opens Up on Almost Quitting Refereeing After Vile Airport Abuse Following Europa League Final

Premier League referee Anthony Taylor has revealed that he almost walked away from football after facing severe abuse from fans at Budapest airport following the fiery 2023 Europa League final between Roma and Sevilla.

The English referee, who officiated the tense final, came under intense criticism from Roma supporters after their team’s defeat — a match that ended in tears, tempers, and turmoil.

Taylor’s ordeal escalated when Jose Mourinho, then Roma’s manager, publicly berated him in the Puskas Arena car park, calling him a “fing disgrace”* over what he described as “bull* decisions.”

The fallout quickly spread beyond the pitch. Videos circulated online showing furious Roma fans verbally abusing Taylor and his family at the airport as security struggled to control the situation.

Speaking in a candid interview with BBC Sport, the 46-year-old referee said the experience pushed him to the brink of giving up his career.

“That’s for sure the worst situation I’ve dealt with in terms of abuse,” Taylor 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 maintained that he made “no major mistakes” during the match and described the emotional toll of seeing his family targeted simply because of his job.

💭 Opinion: When Passion Turns to Poison — The Price Referees Pay for Football’s Fury

Anthony Taylor’s story is a chilling reminder of how toxic football fandom can become when emotion crosses the line into hate.

Referees are an easy target — they don’t have fanbases, highlight reels, or post-match press conferences to defend themselves. Yet, without them, the beautiful game collapses.

Taylor’s experience reveals a darker truth: the humanity of referees is often forgotten. To many fans, they are just symbols of anger, not people with families, emotions, and lives beyond the pitch.

It’s one thing to criticize a call — it’s another to corner a man and his loved ones in an airport for doing his job.

The football world loves to chant about respect, but it must now mean more than slogans. Clubs, managers, and governing bodies must actively protect referees from this level of harassment — because no one should have to choose between their passion and their peace of mind.

⚽ In a sport that preaches fair play, it’s time fans practiced it off the field too.