Of Martin Graham
Premier League officer Anthony Taylor has talked about the face of pressure referees, revealing that his relatives no longer attend his parties due to hostility addressed to him.
The 46 -year -old, who has been a first -flight referee for almost 15 years, described the abuse he experienced when he faced. Rome Supporters after the European League Final 2023 as the most difficult incident has faced.
Taylor, traveling through Budapest Airport with his family following Sevilla’s The penalty shooting victory over Rome, was directed by angry fans. This happened after the manager of Rome, José Mourinho, publicly described the “misfortune” and trusted him in a car park, for which the Portuguese coach received a suspension of four games.
Reflecting on the situation, Taylor said that there had been no major mistakes during the party and that hostility felt like an attempt to divert the fault. The experience asked him if bringing his family to the Games had been a mistake and since then they have not attended any access.
The mentality of “win-at-all-costs” affecting officials
Taylor expressed concern about the impact of the intense environment of football on the mental well -being of the referees. He emphasized how a victory -focused culture is hurting both the established and development party officials.
It prevents social media from staying apart from negativity, but online abuses are still a serious problem. He said that the constant criticism of punctures, media and former referees could harm mental health.
The experienced referee also criticized the behavior at lower levels of the game, where the young party officers regularly face verbal parental attacks on the sidelines. We wondered how this treatment could be considered acceptable or to help the referees.
Call balanced analysis
Taylor acknowledged that officials would have to deal with scrutiny, especially given the bets involved, but argued that criticism is often unilateral.
He explained that the results of football depend on numerous factors during a complete season, not a single decision. Lost penalties, tactical options and various incidents in 38 games play a role.
According to Taylor, discussions often ignore positive actions, leading to an unbalanced story about arbitration decisions.
VAR has increased the scrutiny
According to Taylor, the introduction of video assistant referees intensified, according to Taylor, the pressure on officials. He argued that impeccable decision -making expectations have grown to unrealistic levels.
He believes that some people mistakenly thought that the system would eliminate all mistakes, creating a kind of “utopia”. Instead, he said, he has changed how each decision is examined.
Taylor criticized the inconsistency of public opinion, with some who requested a minimum intervention for a week and demanding more participation in the next. He urged a more realistic understanding of what technology aims to achieve.
Extreme conditions in the Club World Cup
Taylor was part of the referee team at the Summer Club World Cup in the United States, where serious heat matches took place.
He described the temperatures as “absolutely brutal”, but said that the preparation work carried out in the United Kingdom, including the formation of the environmental chamber, helped him and others to face the conditions.
In the face of the World Cup next year in North America, he believes that preparation will be key to managing similar challenges.
“One of the best jobs in the world”
Despite the difficulties, Taylor is still passionate about his profession. Now at the 17th season at the first level and it is 47 years old soon, he does not know how long he will continue, but he is focused on helping two teams of English referees to reach the World Cup.
He described being at the center of the Premier League action as “one of the best jobs in the world”, even in the midst of growing pressures on officials.
