Premier League referee Anthony Taylor has delivered a powerful and deeply personal account of the toll that refereeing at the top level has taken on his family — revealing that his loved ones no longer attend his matches due to the relentless abuse and threats he’s faced both in stadiums and online.
In an emotional interview with BBC Sport, the veteran official admitted that the growing hostility toward referees has made him question whether his job is still “worth it.”
Taylor, now one of England’s most experienced referees, has been a fixture in the Premier League for nearly 15 years and has officiated some of the game’s biggest occasions — from the 2022 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2020, to the European Super Cup and UEFA Nations League finals.
But the darker side of the game, he says, is starting to outweigh the joy.
“That’s the worst situation I’ve ever dealt with,” Taylor recalled, describing the aftermath of the 2023 Europa League final between Sevilla and AS Roma, when he and his family were verbally abused by angry supporters at Budapest Airport.
The chaos stemmed from the fiery final itself, during which Taylor handed out 13 yellow cards and oversaw 25 minutes of added time. After the match, José Mourinho publicly branded him a “disgrace” — twice — before confronting him in a car park, an incident that later earned the Portuguese coach a four-match UEFA ban.
Taylor said the fallout from that night was “deeply disappointing,” particularly because the criticism was unfounded.
“There were actually no major mistakes in that game,” he explained. “But it felt like there had to be someone to blame, and that spotlight landed on me.”
The abuse didn’t end on the pitch. What followed — a torrent of insults and threats online and in person — left a lasting mark on Taylor and his family.
“It’s made me reflect on whether I made a mistake travelling with my family,” he admitted. “They haven’t been to a match since.”
Taylor also spoke candidly about the wider “win-at-all-costs” culture in football, warning that it is eroding respect for match officials and damaging their mental well-being.
“It’s frustrating, it’s angering, and it’s sad,” he said. “People forget we’re human beings. I don’t think those shouting abuse would tolerate that kind of treatment toward themselves or their own children.”
When asked directly whether Mourinho’s behaviour had contributed to the fan backlash, Taylor didn’t shy away:
“Yeah,” he said quietly. “If we’re being honest — yeah.”
After nearly 15 years at the top, Taylor’s words serve as a sobering reminder that referees are often left carrying the emotional scars of the game’s ugliest moments — long after the final whistle has blown.
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