Soccer referee Anthony Taylor was swarmed by angry supporters at Budapest airport on Thursday after Roma coach Jose Mourinho criticized and then confronted him after the match after his side’s loss to Sevilla in the Europa League final.
Taylor was seen walking with his family through Budapest airport, a day after the match took place at the city’s Puskas Arena. Several videos show crowds of fans singing over and around Taylor and her family. Some get their hands on Taylor.
Taylor then led her family past the crowd as some threw bottles in her direction. A person threw a chair. Several uniformed security guards then surrounded Taylor and her family and guided them to a separate room.
Mourinho blasts Taylor, officer after loss
The incident follows harsh criticism from Mourinho targeting refereeing during his post-match press conference following the Roma loss, calling a call a “scandal”. Sevilla beat Roma, 4-1 on penalties after the game ended tied 1-1 in extra time. Mourinho received one of 14 yellow cards issued during the match, a record for a Europa League final.
“It’s a European final, and with this type of refereeing it’s hard to accept,” Mourinho said. “It gets really, really difficult. If we talk about referee-related situations – it’s not two or three, there are a lot. … My players deserve better. And I deserve more. … I I’m kinda sick of being… the face that says we got robbed. I’m sick of all this.”
Mourinho called Taylor by name
“The referee looked like he was Spanish,” Mourinho said, referring to Taylor. “The result was not fair, and there are many cases to re-examine. …
“Since Taylor is a great referee, let’s hope he only referees in the Champions League, and I hope his mistakes will only be in the Champions League and not in the Europa League.”
Mourinho takes on Taylor in a parking lot
After the match, Mourinho was video-recorded in the parking lot of Puskas Arena, calling Taylor a ‘fucking disgrace’. According to reports, Taylor was in the van that Mourinho was shouting at.
“It’s a fucking shame, man. It’s a fucking shame, man,” Mourinho said in English before speaking another language. … “F*** off. F***ing crooks, man.”
The arbitration organization responds
After Thursday’s incident at the airport, the English arbitration organization Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) issued a statement.
“PGMOL is aware of videos circulating on social media showing Anthony Taylor and his family being harassed and abused at Budapest airport,” the statement said. “We are appalled at the unjustified and heinous abuse directed at Anthony and his family as he tries to return home after officiating in the UEFA Europa League final. We will continue to give Anthony and his family our full support. .”
Mourinho has not responded publicly since the incident at the airport.