Anthony Taylor: I was besieged by Roma fans in the 2023 Europa League final and I don’t want to be a referee anymore

Hupu News, October 10th Premier League referee Anthony Taylor recently accepted an exclusive interview with BBC Sports and spoke publicly for the first time about the incident when he and his family were stranded at the Budapest Airport after the 2023 Europa League final and were besieged by Roma fans. The 46-year-old referee admitted that the expectation of "absolute perfection" from referees in today's football world is suffocating, and even made him repeatedly question "whether it is all worth it."

On the darkest moment of being besieged after the 2023 Europa League final

"That was the worst abuse I have ever encountered in my career. " Taylor recalled. He was walking through the airport with his family and was surrounded by angry Roma fans. What chilled him even more was that there was actually "no major misjudgment" in the enforcement of this final. In his opinion, some people are trying to "shift the focus to the scapegoat." This behavior of shifting responsibility makes him feel "extremely disappointed, frustrated and angry."

Taylor said: "At the time, I wanted to quit the refereeing world. I thought this was a situation I could not accept."

Taylor said 1} When asked whether Roma coach Mourinho's post-match parking lot interception incited fans' emotions, Taylor bluntly said: "If we are honest, yes." The Portuguese coach was suspended for four games for his behavior at the time, and twice reprimanded Taylor's penalty as "shameful" at the post-match press conference.

Regarding the law enforcement dilemma faced by Premier League referees

Taylor pointed out that the culture of "win at all costs" in football circles is eroding the mental health of the referees. Although he is not opposed to necessary supervision, he emphasized: "Few people talk about the positive side now, and public opinion is almost never balanced." He revealed that his family will no longer watch his law enforcement live due to the situation in 2023, and he also stays away from social media to avoid the interference of negative information.

Regarding the "perfect law enforcement" expectations caused by VAR technology, Taylor believes that this is a fantasy that is divorced from reality: "People say 'VAR shouldn't be picky' this week, but next week they ask 'why VAR doesn't intervene.' The original intention of this technology requires more rational thinking."

Regarding the hidden worries about grassroots referees' enforcement

What worries Taylor even more is that Grassroots football environment: "Every weekend in any community stadium in the UK, you can see parents insulting young referees on the sidelines." He questioned how this atmosphere can cultivate the new generation of referees, "I don't understand why some people think this is acceptable."

About officiating the Club World Cup this summer

The experience of officiating the American Club World Cup this summer has allowed Taylor to understand the challenges of extreme environments. Talking about the players playing in the sweltering heat, he described the conditions as "absolutely brutal". For next year's World Cup in North America, he believes that adequate preparation is the key.

About his future

Despite the tremendous pressure, Taylor, who has been refereeing the Premier League for nearly 15 years, still calls top league refereeing "one of the best jobs in the world." The 47-year-old said humorously that chasing young players "is not easy at this age." Now his biggest wish is to lead two English referee teams to the North American World Cup next year.