Premier League Referee Anthony Taylor Announces Retirement After 20-Year Career
Anthony Taylor, a well-known Premier League referee, has confirmed his retirement after two decades officiating at the highest level.
His final match was the World Cup round‑of‑16 clash where Spain edged Portugal 1‑0 on 6 July, bringing his total to 831 games across domestic and international competitions.
Taylor started his working life as a prison officer before entering the Football League referees’ list for the 2006‑07 season. He earned promotion to the Premier League in 2010 and went on to oversee 432 top‑flight fixtures, including every major domestic cup final.
In England he took charge of 668 professional matches and added 163 international appointments, featuring at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2020 and 2024 UEFA European Championships.
Reflecting on his career, Taylor said, “Officiating at the elite level has been an immense privilege, but the pressure is intense, and the scrutiny is constant.” He added that the time is right to step aside and focus on the next chapter of his life.
He was also in the mix for the 2022 World Cup final but was withdrawn due to political sensitivities surrounding the potential Argentina‑England showdown.
Howard Webb, chief refereeing officer at Pro Ref, praised Taylor’s contribution: “Anthony has been a fantastic servant to the game over many years, both domestically and on the international stage. He has been repeatedly trusted to officiate in the biggest games. We thank him for his immense contribution and wish him every success in the next chapter of his career.”
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