The Premier League is taking a serious look into the online harassment directed at referee Anthony Taylor following his role in Chelsea’s match against Bournemouth on Saturday.
This game, which saw Taylor issue a record-breaking number of 16 cards, has sparked a troubling wave of abuse.
Record-Breaking Card Count and the Fallout
During the game at the Vitality Stadium, Taylor handed out 14 cards to players and two more to coaching staff, including Enzo Maresca.
The response on social media has been alarming, with threats aimed at Taylor and his family.
Some messages have been particularly disturbing, with one user writing that Taylor “needs to be killed” and another making threats against his family.
PGMOL’s Response and Taylor’s Upcoming Duties
In light of the situation, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has extended its standard support to Taylor.
For the upcoming weekend, Taylor will not be officiating any matches.
Instead, he will serve as the fourth official in two games: Southampton vs. Ipswich on Saturday and Brighton vs. Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Addressing the Abuse
The Premier League has a system in place for reporting abuse like this.
Each case is reviewed thoroughly, reported to the relevant social media platforms, and investigated.
Legal action is pursued when necessary to address such serious threats.
