On his way through Budapest airport on Thursday after his performance in the Europa League final, English referee Anthony Taylor was met by a swarm of enraged Roma supporters. Anthony Taylor and his family were harassed and assaulted by the Roma fans who were angered by the referee’s controversial calls in their Europa League final loss to Sevilla.
Taylor, 44, became the Italian giants’ public enemy No. 1 following their Europa League final defeat to Sevilla. In the Puskas Arena car lot, Roma manager Jose Mourinho dubbed his performance a “f****** disgrace,” incensed after his team’s heartbreaking penalty shootout loss that puts his career in risk. However, the episode didn’t end there as it dragged all the way to Taylor’s way back home.
PGMOL issues statement on harassment of Taylor and family by Roma fans
Long after the final whistle, enraged Roma manager Jose Mourinho accosted Taylor in the Puskas Arena car lot, calling the official a ‘f***ing disgrace’ for his ‘bull****’ choices after the Italians lost on penalties. With Roma fans enraged about Taylor’s appointment as manager, the English official was encircled by more than a hundred fans in Budapest airport as he and his family sought refuge in a rear room away from the throng.
Security personnel attempted to maintain a barrier between the referee, his family, and Roma fans who yelled and flung objects, including a chair, amid tumultuous circumstances. Disturbing social media footage shows crowds yelling violently in his direction, causing police officers to rush him into a separate room.
The individual holding the camera seemed to grasp Taylor’s backpack in one video as the referee tries to protect his daughter who can be seen crying and horrified by the incident. As the 44-year-old was brought to safety, pockets of fans clashed, with police pleading for calm after a chair was flung within the airport.
Taylor was shown creeping past the crowd while flanked by family members in another perspective. One fan in a white t-shirt approached Taylor, holding his phone up to his face, before being forced away by a member of Taylor’s party. A guy was then splashed with liquid in their direction. The group was eventually hustled through the door, with one officer grabbing the flying chair in mid-air.
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Roma supporter who hurled the chair has been caught by police, according to Football Italia. The event was regarded as ‘unjustified and repulsive’ by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the organisation in charge of officiating in the United Kingdom. It released a statement that read:
“PGMOL is aware of videos circulating on social media showing Anthony Taylor and his family being harassed and abused at Budapest Airport.
“We are appalled at the unjustified and abhorrent abuse directed at Anthony and his family as he tries to make his way home from refereeing the UEFA Europa League final. We will continue to provide our full support to Anthony and his family.”