Anthony Taylor: A keyboard warrior on the internet; being a prison guard influenced Ericsson’s first aid at the time

Hupu reported on October 11 that famous referee Anthony Taylor accepted an exclusive interview with The Times.

(Slightly different version)

Some things are improving. The 2023 Europa League final prompted UEFA to introduce rules that only team captains can approach referees to discuss penalties. The Premier League has adopted these rules from the beginning of this season.

Have there been any changes in the way players and coaches treat referees during his 20 years of officiating?

"Well, people will still try to trick you," he said, laughing. "You can't count the number of times people swear you didn't give a penalty or a red card - despite having people checking over and over again at Stockley Park. But our relationship with the players is pretty good, thanks to team visits at the beginning of the season."

Is the atmosphere at Premier League games calmer than before?

"I wouldn't say that, no. Things have changed, but there's still a lot of nonsense around the dugout. Not necessarily the head coach, but the various support staff. I love being the fourth official, but sometimes they act like childish kindergarteners.

The head coach is The most important person is who I should interact with. I'm not going to tell a goalkeeping coach how to coach his goalkeepers, or a physio how to put a band-aid on a player, so I don't need someone to tell me what they think a referee should do on the field."

Referees are more than just cool heads under pressure. It requires quick and clear thinking, sifting through layers of information in an instant, and making correct calls—all while controlling the game environment and personnel.

Taylor was praised for his handling of Liverpool's game against Bournemouth in August, when Semayo reported being racially abused.

"We have clear guidelines to follow, but the most important thing is the alleged victim. Antoine must be the focus of all your work and the most important thing is that the player feels his voice is heard and the matter is dealt with.

I think after the game, when we had spoken to him, his coach and the police, he left the stadium feeling that things had been taken care of. "It was only on the way home that he felt the pressure.

"You'll be desperately looking for the bylaws you're supposed to be following on your phone or laptop, but you can't find them."

Taylor was the referee when Christian Eriksen went into cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. Having witnessed life-threatening situations in prison, he was able to quickly sense Eriksen's situation and put the player's safety first, ensuring he went to the locker room during pauses in the game to provide updates.

He was thinking of Beswick.

"Gary's mother passed away a few weeks before that European Cup, and I couldn't contact him for a long time."

Is he okay?

"It's okay."

Last year, he received death threats online after showing a bunch of yellow cards against Chelsea at Bournemouth. He's pretty tough.

"Social media is just a bunch of keyboard warriors," he said with a shrug. "[Abuse] probably happens almost every weekend. It happened last weekend. Outside Stamford Bridge, you're putting your bag in the luggage rack and there's a spectator coming out of the bar or walking around the pitch. They wait until you're walking past before they start abusing you. They don't do that when you're looking at them." How does the abuse affect his family?

"Like anything in life, it requires a conversation between adults. So if I'm going to have a tough match, I let the girls know ahead of time. That way they know that if they're going to the bar, then let them be.

It's up to them, but she They're also very savvy on social media. You have to look out for things, don't you? They're definitely not searching on Twitter: How's my dad doing? I'd question their judgment if they did that every week."

What's the biggest challenge facing Premier League football these days?

"Speed. I'm not sure what the numbers are now, but I know a few years ago the speed of the competition increased by 20% in five years. The top speed of the referee can reach 26, 27 kilometers per hour or even higher. Well, so the waves in the Yangtze River push the waves ahead."