My family faced threats after Mourinho ambushed me, I almost quit – EPL ref, Anthony Taylor

Premier League referee, Anthony Taylor, has admitted he almost quit after his family faced vile abuse at Budapest airport.

Following Roma’s defeat to Sevilla in the 2023 Europa League final, Taylor and his loved ones were targeted by angry Italian fans.

Jose Mourinho, who was the manager of the Serie A club at the time, confronted the 46-year-old in the car park of the Puskas Arena after the final white, calling him a “f**king disgrace” for his “bull*** decisions.

Taylor has since insisted that he made “no major mistakes” in the game.

“That’s for sure the worst situation I’ve dealt with in terms of abuse,” Taylor told BBC Sport of the Europa League final.

“Not only because I was travelling with family members at the time, but it also highlights the impact of people’s behaviour on others – and so yeah, there’s always scrutiny around big, high-profile matches.”