Anthony Taylor admits José Mourinho’s behaviour influenced angry Roma fans after the 2023 Europa League Final as the English referee was insulted by fans while walking at the Budapest Airport with his family: ‘The worst situation in terms of abuse.’
English referee Taylor opened up about insults and threats received by a group of Roma fans the day after the 2023 Europa League Final, which Mourinho’s side lost on penalties to Sevilla.
Roma protested for a possible penalty kick in extra time, prompting Mourinho to call Taylor “a disgrace” and even confronting the official in the stadium’s car park.
Taylor: ‘The worst situation I’ve dealt with in terms of abuse’
The reaction from Roma fans surely wasn’t milder as a group of Giallorossi supporters abused Taylor while he was walking through the Budapest Airport with his family the day after the game.
“That’s the worst situation I’ve dealt with in terms of abuse,” the referee told the BBC.
“Not only because I was travelling with family members at the time, but it also highlights the impact of people’s behaviour on others. Even in a match like that, where there was actually no major mistakes in the game.”
Taylor: Mourinho influenced Roma fans
Taylor felt there was an attempt to “shift focus onto somebody to blame” and added: “For me, that’s a great source of disappointment, frustration, anger. Why that’s acceptable, I don’t know – because I’m sure those individuals wouldn’t like somebody to turn around and say that to them or their own children.
“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 was asked whether Mourinho’s strong reaction could have influenced the fans’ behaviour and he admitted: “Yeah. I think if we’re being honest, yeah.”
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