Premier League referee Anthony Taylor has spoken frankly about the growing abuse directed at match officials, revealing the psychological strain it causes and how it has forced his family to stop attending his games.
In a rare and emotional interview with BBC Sport, Taylor reflected on the abuse he suffered from Roma fans at Budapest Airport after officiating the 2023 Europa League final, where Sevilla defeated Roma on penalties.
The incident came after Roma boss Jose Mourinho branded him a “disgrace” and confronted him in a car park, for which the Portuguese coach was later handed a four-match ban.
“That was the worst situation I’ve ever dealt with,” Taylor said. “Not only because I was travelling with my family, but because it shows how people’s behaviour can affect others. It makes you question whether it’s all worth it.”
The 46-year-old, who has been a Premier League referee for nearly 15 years and officiated at the World Cup and European Championship, said the constant scrutiny and “win-at-all-costs” mentality in football are taking a serious toll on referees’ mental health.
“If you’re continually told you’re not good enough by pundits, media, or fans, people’s mental health can suffer,” he said. “There’s an expectation of perfection, but perfection doesn’t exist.”
Taylor believes the introduction of VAR has intensified the pressure on referees and created unrealistic standards.
“People need to decide what they want,” he said. “One week they say VAR ruins the flow of the game, the next week they’re outraged that it didn’t intervene. You can’t have it both ways.”
The English official also expressed concern about the treatment of referees at grassroots level, describing how young officials are regularly subjected to verbal abuse from parents.
“That’s not an environment where people can improve,” he said. “I don’t understand how anyone can think that’s acceptable.”
Despite the abuse and personal cost, Taylor insists he still loves the job. Now in his 17th Premier League season, he says his focus remains on performing at the highest level and helping ensure English referees are represented at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
“When it comes down to it, it’s one of the best jobs in the world,” Taylor said. “You’re right in the middle of the action, in the most exciting league in the world.”
