Premier League referee Anthony Taylor has revealed that his family no longer attend his matches due to the scale of abuse directed at officials.
Furthermore, he criticised a “win-at-all-costs” culture that, in his view, has created an “expectation of perfection.”
In a candid interview with BBC Sport, the 46-year-old official spoke publicly for the first time about a specific, troubling incident.
He detailed being harassed by AS Roma fans at Budapest airport following the 2023 Europa League final, an event he described as the “worst situation I’ve ever dealt with.”
Referee Anthony Taylor Says Family No Longer Attends Matches Due to Abuse
The Breaking Point in Budapest
The airport confrontation occurred after then-Roma manager Jose Mourinho publicly berated Taylor in a car park following his team’s penalty shootout loss to Sevilla. As a result of his conduct, where he called the referee a “disgrace,” officials later handed Mourinho a four-match ban.
Anthony Taylor says his family have not been to a game he has officiated since the abuse they faced after the Europa League final in 2023. pic.twitter.com/UkaAu4ity9
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 10, 2025
“That’s the worst situation I’ve dealt with in terms of abuse,” Taylor said, explaining the incident’s lasting impact.
“It makes you reflect… whether you made a mistake travelling with your family in the first place. They haven’t been to one [match] since.”
Crucially, Taylor suggested that Mourinho’s initial behaviour likely influenced the fans who subsequently abused him.
A Culture of Unrealistic Expectations
Taylor, who has officiated at the highest level, including a World Cup, also argued that technology has worsened the problem. Specifically, he believes the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system has fuelled unrealistic demands for flawless performances.
“It brought this expectation of perfection,” he told the BBC. “We’re expecting referees to get every decision right… we have to accept that if we don’t create the right environment for people to thrive, then people will be fearful.”
“Is it worth it?”
Premier League referee Anthony Taylor has told @DanRoan there’s a ‘fear factor’ when officiating a match at the top level. pic.twitter.com/NJZLAbW69o
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 10, 2025
Beyond the professional game, he expressed deep concern for officials at the grassroots level. He noted that verbal abuse of young referees by parents is, unfortunately, a common sight across the UK on any given weekend.
However, despite the immense pressures, Taylor still called officiating “one of the best jobs in the world.” He remains focused on his ambition to be one of two English refereeing teams selected for the 2026 World Cup.
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