Premier League referee Anthony Taylor has disclosed that the abuse and threats he faces, both inside stadiums and beyond, have forced his family to stop attending his matches.
Taylor, who has been officiating at the highest levels of football for nearly 15 years, including the 2022 Qatar World Cup and the 2020 European Championship, spoke publicly for the first time about the emotional and personal toll the role has taken on him.
The turning point came during the 2023 Europa League final, where Taylor showed yellow cards to 13 players and oversaw 25 minutes of added time. After the match, ex-Roma boss Jose Mourinho labeled him a “disgrace” twice in a post-match news conference and confronted him in a car park, which earned Mourinho a four-match ban.
That’s the worst situation I’ve dealt with in terms of abuse. It makes you reflect back on whether you made a mistake travelling with your family in the first place. They haven’t been to one match since – Taylor
Shortly afterward, Taylor was verbally abused by angry fans while passing through Budapest Airport with his family. This incident remains the worst abuse Taylor has faced, especially because his family was present.
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