Stop expecting perfection from us - top referee

Premier League referee Anthony Taylor has criticised the "expectation of perfection" culture that officials are subject to, and says his family no longer go to his matches because of the abuse he receives.

In an interview with BBC Sport, Taylor speaks publicly for the first time about being targeted by Roma fans as he walked through an airport with his family, external after the 2023 Europa League final.

The 46-year-old says he is so concerned by attitudes towards referees, there are times he thinks, 'Is it all worth it?'.

However, he also says being a top-flight official is one of the best jobs in the world.

Taylor has been a Premier League referee for almost 15 years, officiated at the Qatar World Cup in 2022 and 2020 European Championship and has overseen the finals of both the European Super Cup final and Nations League.

He believes football's 'win-at-all-costs' approach is having a detrimental effect on the mental health and performance of current and future referees.

'That's the worst situation I've dealt with'

Taylor was confronted by Roma boss Jose Mourinho after his side had lost the 2023 Europa League final on penalties to Sevilla.

The English official showed yellow cards to 13 players during the match, and 25 minutes of added time were played across the full match, including extra time.

Mourinho called Taylor a "disgrace" twice in a post-match news conference before confronting him in a car park - an incident the Portuguese was given a four-match ban for.

Taylor was then shouted at by angry fans as he walked though Budapest Airport with his family.

"That's the worst situation I've dealt with in terms of abuse," he says.

"Not only because I was travelling with family members at the time, but it also highlights the impact of people's behaviour on others. Even in a match like that, where there was actually no major mistakes in the game."

Taylor felt after the match there was an attempt to "shift focus on to somebody to blame".

He adds: "For me, that's a great source of disappointment, frustration, anger.

"Why that's acceptable, I don't know - because I'm sure those individuals wouldn't like somebody to turn around and say that to them or their own children.

"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."

Asked if he felt Mourinho's behaviour could have influenced the fans who abused him, he says: "Yeah. I think if we're being honest, yeah."