AS Roma fan arrested after assault on Europa League final referee Anthony Taylor

Premier League referee Anthony Taylor || Image credit: Imago

AS Roma fan arrested after assault on Europa League final referee Anthony Taylor

Ayoola Kelechi 06:30 - 03.06.2023

Police have arrested one fan in connection with the harassment of Europa League final referee Anthony Taylor

An Italian fan has reportedly been arrested following the assault on Europa League final referee Anthony Taylor in Hungary. 

Anthony Taylor attacked after final in Hungary

The English match official and his family were accosted by fans of Italian side, AS Roma, after a number of controversial calls during the Europa League final between Roma and Sevilla were believed to have cost the team the game in an eventual loss. 

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After the game, Taylor was branded a disgrace by the Gialorossi’s manager, Jose Mourinho, who accosted him in the parking lot at the Puskas Arena, and the anger from the manager spilt over to Roma fans who met with the match official as he and his family made way from back home from Budapest. 

Taylor and his family were harassed and taunted at the Budapest airport by fans of the club and police have now announced that one person has been arrested in connection to the incident. 

Police arrest fan in connection with Taylor harrasment

After videos emerged of the incident involving Taylor and fans at the Budapest airport, European football’s governing body UEFA and the Premier League’s refereeing body PGMOL released statements condemning the attack, with UEFA also opening disciplinary proceedings against Roma manager, Mourinho. 

 Police in Budapest also reacted to the incident by making an arrest and opening disciplinary proceedings against a fan caught at the centre of the fracas. 

A statement from Budapest police read, “The Italian citizen involved in the incident was apprehended by the police and criminal proceedings have been initiated on charges of affray.

“There were no further disturbances at the airport following the police response to this isolated incident. Budapest Airport and the police wish to make it clear that there is zero tolerance towards violence of any kind towards passengers or staff working at the airport.”

Sevilla’s win over Roma extended their record of unbeaten games in the competition’s final to seven games while denying Roma the chance to win back-to-back European trophies for the first time in the club’s history. 

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