Referee Anthony Taylor Opens Up About Abuse and Family Safety
Anthony Taylor, a prominent figure in football officiating, revealed that there have been instances where he contemplated leaving the profession due to ongoing harassment. His family has also opted out of attending major matches following an incident at an airport involving Roma supporters.
In a candid interview with BBC Sport, the 46-year-old referee expressed his concerns about the outdated culture surrounding the sport.
Taylor, who has officiated two FA Cup finals in 2017 and 2020, has been on the FIFA referees’ roster for over ten years. He represented England as one of six referees at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and was also in charge of the 2023 Europa League final, where Sevilla triumphed over Roma in Budapest.
During that match, which was filled with tension, Taylor issued 13 yellow cards and faced backlash from angry fans at the airport post-game. The incident drew attention after Sevilla won following a penalty shootout against a Jose Mourinho-managed Roma.
Despite his standing as one of the top referees in the Premier League, Taylor feels that officials are often unfairly targeted, especially after Chelsea’s thrilling last-minute victory over Liverpool last weekend.
When questioned about his thoughts on quitting refereeing, Taylor replied, “There have certainly been times—I’m not alone in this—when I’ve questioned whether it’s worth it.” He added that it can feel unjust with the level of criticism referees receive.
He noted, “There’s a dated psychological approach of trying to pressure the referee or the fourth official in hopes of swaying decisions.”
Following the Europa League final, footage surfaced showing Taylor being harassed at Budapest Airport, where objects were thrown at him and his companions while navigating through a crowd of Roma fans. Airport security had to intervene to protect them.
In light of these experiences, Taylor mentioned that his family has refrained from attending significant matches and acknowledged, “This is definitely the worst situation I’ve encountered regarding disrespect.”
He elaborated, “Traveling with family during such instances brings additional concern. It really makes you rethink whether bringing them along was the right choice.”
When asked if his family has stopped going to high-profile matches, he confirmed, “Yes, they haven’t been to one since.”
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