The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body responsible for referees in England, has expressed its shock and condemnation of the “unjustified and abhorrent” abuse aimed at referee Anthony Taylor following the Europa League final in Budapest.
Taylor, an English referee, officiated the match where Sevilla emerged victorious over Roma in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
After the game, Taylor and his family were subjected to verbal harassment by angry fans at Budapest Airport. The incident occurred in the aftermath of Roma manager Jose Mourinho confronting Taylor with an expletive-laden tirade in a car park, which was captured on video and has since circulated on social media.
In the video footage, Taylor and his family can be seen being approached by fans while being escorted through the airport. The situation escalates into scuffles before they are able to escape through a secure door, with a chair being thrown during the chaos.
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The PGMOL has strongly denounced the mistreatment of Anthony Taylor and his family, emphasizing that such behavior is completely unacceptable and has no place in football or society. They have called for a thorough investigation into the incident and for appropriate action to be taken against those responsible for the abusive behavior.
“[We are] aware of videos circulating on social media showing Anthony Taylor and his family being harassed and abused at Budapest Airport.
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“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.”
Meanwhile UEFA is currently awaiting reports from match officials and delegates before deciding whether to take any action against Roma manager Jose Mourinho regarding the incident that occurred in the car park beneath the stadium after the match.
Mourinho had openly criticized referee Anthony Taylor during his news conference, and later, he was captured on video ranting and making pointed comments as Taylor and other officials were boarding a minibus. The Portuguese coach repeatedly used profanity and expressed his discontent by referring to the situation as a “disgrace,” among other remarks in Italian.
Roberto Rosetti, UEFA’s chief refereeing officer, attempted to defuse the tense situation and calm the atmosphere down.
During the heated game, which was marked by a high level of animosity, Mourinho was booked, and Taylor was frequently called to the benches to address issues as the fourth official, Michael Oliver, struggled to maintain control.
Taylor distributed yellow cards to a total of 13 players throughout the match, setting a record for the most bookings in a Europa League final. Notably, seven of those cards were given to Roma players, further establishing a record for a final.
The game experienced numerous delays and injuries, resulting in over 25 minutes of added time across the four halves of play, which included extra time and eventually led to a penalty shootout.