Marchisio calls Roma fans who attacked ref Taylor ‘poor losers’

Former Juventus and Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio strongly condemns Roma fans who attacked English referee Anthony Taylor at the Budapest Airport after Wednesday’s Europa League Final, calling them ‘poor losers.’

A few Roma fans attacked the English official at Budapest’s Airport on Thursday, the day after a Europa League Final between the Giallorossi and Sevilla.

Taylor was heading home with his wife and daughter, who looked understandably frightened. The PGMOL have condemned Roma fans for their ‘unjustified and abhorrent abuse’ aimed at the English official, and Juventus legend Marchisio did the same with a lengthy Instagram post.

“25,000 Roma fans coloured Budapest with Roma colours, supporting their team with love and passion from start to finish, representing the best our football has to offer and honouring Roma’s magnificent path in Europa League,” wrote the former midfielder.

“A few hours after the Final, dozen at the Airport became the protagonist of a crappy scene, a real assault on Anthony Taylor’s family. At that moment, he was not a referee but only a husband and a father who wanted to protect his wife and his daughter in disbelief and scared by the violence of these poor losers.

“This is not football; these are not fans, this is only criminality that makes everyone tired. Enough is enough.”

José Mourinho had been highly critical of ref Taylor on Wednesday night, saying the English official ‘seemed Spanish.’ The Special One even waited for Taylor in the car park of the Puskas Arena in Budapest, insulting him.

UEFA have now opened an investigation into Mourinho’s actions and the Portuguese coach risks a lengthy ban.