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Jose Mourinho’s Outburst Left a Premier League Referee Fearing for His Family

Originally posted on Total Apex Sports | By Fahad Hamid | Last updated Oct 10, 2025 11:56 AM ET

It was supposed to be just another high-stakes European final. Instead, for Premier League referee Anthony Taylor, the 2023 Europa League final became a nightmare that still haunts him and his family. The architect of that chaos? None other than the “Special One” himself, José Mourinho. In a recent, candid interview, Taylor has finally opened up about the torrent of abuse he and his family suffered, a situation he believes was directly fueled by Mourinho’s post-match tirade.

The incident has had lasting consequences, with Taylor revealing his family hasn’t attended a single match since that terrifying day. It’s a stark reminder that in the world of modern football, a manager’s words can have dangerous, real-world repercussions.

What Did Mourinho Do to Anthony Taylor?

Let’s rewind to May 2023. Sevilla faced Mourinho’s Roma in a heated Europa League final in Budapest. After a grueling match that saw Roma lose on penalties, Mourinho, never one to shy away from a dramatic exit, went nuclear. He publicly branded Taylor a “disgrace” in his press conference, but it didn’t stop there. Footage later emerged of Mourinho confronting the referee in the stadium car park, unleashing a profanity-laced rant.

For anyone who’s followed Mourinho’s career, this isn’t exactly out of character. He’s built a legacy on deflecting blame and creating an “us against the world” mentality. But this time, his theatrics spilled over in a terrifying way.

When Taylor and his family attempted to fly home from Budapest, they were ambushed at the airport by a mob of enraged Roma supporters. Videos showed the referee and his loved ones being jostled and screamed at, with one person even attempting to throw a chair. They needed a police escort to navigate the chaos.

Reflecting on the incident, Taylor told the BBC it was “the worst situation I’ve dealt with in terms of abuse.” He added, “It makes you reflect back on whether you made a mistake travelling with your family in the first place. They haven’t been to one [match] since.” When asked if he felt Mourinho’s comments contributed to the fans’ behavior, Taylor was direct: “Yeah. I think if we’re being honest, yeah.”

The Toxic Blame Culture in Football

Taylor’s ordeal shines a blinding light on the toxic blame culture festering in football. Managers and players often use referees as scapegoats to distract from their own shortcomings. It’s a tired, predictable script, but one that continues to have a dangerous impact. The idea that a single refereeing decision can cost a team an entire season is, as Taylor puts it, “factually not true.” Yet, this narrative is pushed relentlessly.

“The footballing culture in general is, ‘we need to win this game at all costs’,” Taylor explained. “The lengths that people go to post-game… to spread false narratives, to spread malicious conspiracy theories… it creates a hugely negative environment.”

This constant barrage of criticism, amplified by pundits and social media, takes a serious mental toll. Imagine being told, day in and day out, by thousands of people that you’re terrible at your job. It’s an environment that breeds fear and anxiety, yet referees are expected to perform flawlessly under immense pressure.

Is Being a Referee Still Worth It?

Despite the abuse and the unrelenting scrutiny, Taylor surprisingly maintains that his job is “one of the best in the world.” After 17 seasons in the Premier League and officiating at World Cups and European Championships, he still relishes being “in the centre of the action in the most exciting league in the world.”

But his story is a cautionary tale. The vitriol directed at officials is unsustainable and is poisoning the game from the grassroots level up. While Mourinho has long moved on from Roma, the consequences of his actions linger for Anthony Taylor and his family. It raises an uncomfortable question for the footballing world: when a manager’s post-match “passion” leads to a family being attacked in an airport, where do we draw the line?

This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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