Rio Ferdinand slams "bulls***" Roma thugs who attacked referee Anthony Taylor

02 June 2023 , 08:54

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Anthony Taylor and his family were chased by Roma thugs through the airport (Image: Twitter / @refsupportuk)

Rio Ferdinand has called out UEFA for failing to protect Anthony Taylor and his family, who were attacked by “bulls***” thugs in an airport after the Europa League final.

Taylor was confronted by angry Roma supporters in Budapest Airport after Jose Mourinho branded him a “f***ing disgrace” in an angry tirade in a car park. The English referee oversaw the Italian team’s 4-1 defeat on penalties by Sevilla after a 1-1 draw which saw 14 yellow cards issued.

Roma were furious with Taylor because he ordered Gabriel Montiel’s penalty to be retaken after Rui Patricio came off his line to save the first effort. The Sevilla defender scored on the second attempt to secure a seventh Europa League title for the Spanish side and send Roma fans home unhappy.

The disgraceful scenes in the airport have been widely criticised and former Manchester United defender Ferdinand has added his voice to the condemnation. “Wow…I hope Anthony Taylor and his family are ok after that bull****,” he tweeted.

“How has he been left to walk without security - all of the authorities have to start thinking worst case scenarios the way things are. These thugs should be held accountable asap”.

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UEFA, European football’s governing body, are yet to comment on the scenes, which appeared to leave Taylor and his family shaken. They were eventually taken to safety by airport security, but only after a plastic chair was thrown in their direction.

Anthony Taylor was attacked by Roma fans in Budapest Airport (Twitter / @MCriscitiello)

He was eventually ushered to safety by security

The PGMOL, the body responsible for match officials in the UK, has released a statement in support of Taylor. “PGMOL is aware of videos circulating on social media showing Anthony Taylor and his family being harassed and abused at Budapest Airport,” it read.

“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."

Meanwhile, former Premier League referee Mark Halsey tweeted: “Absolutely disgraceful @UEFA should throw the book at #Roma”.

Jose Mourinho was furious with Anthony Taylor's decisions (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Former Soccer Saturday host Jeff Stelling added: “Jose Mourinho actions and words contributed massively to the disgraceful behaviour towards Antony Taylor. He is a repeat repeat repeat offender . Needs the strongest possible punishment.”

Speaking post-match, Mourinho had bemoaned Taylor’s decision not to send off Sevilla midfielder Erik Lamela, who then scored in the shoot-out.

“We care about the shirt, we care about our nature, we take things seriously, work with humility and give everything we have to give,” he said. “Each of us react in a different way, one cries another doesn’t, but the truth is we are all very sad. We return dead tired, dead with feeling it is unjust.

“It was an intense, masculine, vibrant game with a referee who seemed Spanish. It was yellow, yellow, yellow all the time. The injustice is shown by the fact Lamela should’ve had a second yellow, he didn’t, and he converted a penalty in the shoot-out.”

Felix Keith