Soccer referee attacked by Roma fans at Budapest Airport after Europa League final defeat

Soccer referee attacked by Roma fans at Budapest Airport after Europa League final defeat | Secret Flying

Angry Roma fans harass Taylor and his family at Budapest Airport.

 

English soccer referee Anthony Taylor and his family were hounded by a group of Roma supporters at Budapest Airport on Thursday, after the Italian side were defeated by Sevilla in the Europa League final.

 

Taylor infuriated Roma fans when he gave Sevilla’s Gonzalo Montiel another chance to take his winning penalty, after he correctly adjudged Roma goalkeeper Rui Patricio to have come off his line.

 

Earlier in the game, Taylor denied Roma two penalties, waving away the passionate protests of the Italians.

 

Footage posted on social media shows large groups of men chanting angrily in his direction at the airport, forcing Hungarian police officers to hurriedly usher him into a private room.

 

In one video, the person holding the camera appeared to grab Taylor’s backpack and pull him back.

 

Another angle recorded Taylor edging through the crowd, surrounded by family members, as one supporter clad in a white t-shirt steps forward to shout in his face with his phone aloft.

 

A member of Taylor’s party can be seen shoving him away, before a drink is thrown at them. Eventually, the group were hurried through the door, with one officer catching a flying chair in mid-air.

 

Roma manager, Jose Mourinho, has been accused of stoking tensions after he fumed at Taylor in his post-match news conference.

 

“The referee seemed like he was Spanish,” Mourinho said. “The result was not fair, and there are a lot of instances to reexamine.”

 

The Portuguese manager was later filmed in the stadium car park lashing out at Taylor after the game, branding him a “f***ing disgrace”.

 

The English Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) says it is appalled by the “unjustified and abhorrent” abuse directed at Anthony Taylor.

 

In a statement, the body said: “PGMOL is aware of videos circulating on social media showing Anthony Taylor and his family being harassed and abused at Budapest Airport.

 

“We are appalled at the unjustified and abhorrent abuse directed at Anthony and his family as he tries to make his way home from refereeing the Uefa Europa League final. We will continue to provide our full support to Anthony and his family.”