Referee Anthony Taylor has been forced to run a gauntlet of raging Roma fans on his way home from refereeing the Europa League final.
The English whistler took charge of the final in Budapest between serial winners Sevilla and Jose Mourinho’s Serie A side.
It was a busy night for the Englishman, who flashed 13 yellows as the La Liga outfit continued their incredible record in the competition, winning it for a seventh time in 18 years, stretching back to when it was still known as the UEFA Cup.
They fell behind to Paulo Dybala’s opener before a Gianluca Mancini own goal squared things up ten minutes after the break.
The pair couldn’t separated in 120 minutes, so penalties it was. And Jose Luis Mendilibar’s men held their nerve to secure a 4-1 victory on spot kicks and bring the trophy back to what is now it’s spiritual home in the South of Spain.
But the night didn’t end for Taylor when Gonzalo Montiel converted the decisive pen, which proved controversial after Taylor ordered a retake on the advice of VAR shortly after the Argentine had missed his initial attempt.
Jose Mourinho to Anthony Taylor: “You’re a f**king disgrace!!!”
😳
(🎥 via @tvdellosport) pic.twitter.com/l9mxOBn8wd
— ChelsTransfer (@ChelsTransfer) June 1, 2023
Mourinho, who also believed Sevilla’s Erik Lamela should have been sent off before the shoot-out, hung back in the stadium car park to confront the official, branding him a “f*****g disgrace” in a foul-mouthed rant following his team’s defeat.
And his actions seem to have encouraged Giallorossi fans to take their anger out on Taylor as he tried to make his way through the airport with his partner. Scores of angry punters jeered and shouted abuse as airport security tried to usher the 44-year-old safely through the terminal.
Anthony Taylor, the referee of the Europa League final, was attacked by Roma supporters at Budapest airport. 🧐
Shocking. 😠
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) June 1, 2023
L’arbitro Taylor in aeroporto trova alcuni tifosi della Roma che non hanno gradito L’arbitraggio di ieri sera… live SPORTITALIA canale 60 @tvdellosport @AlfredoPedulla @tancredipalmeri pic.twitter.com/xtv6b4X8u9
— Michele Criscitiello (@MCriscitiello) June 1, 2023
