Anthony Taylor retires

Anthony Taylor retires

Premier League referee Anthony Taylor has announced his retirement from football with immediate effect, bringing an end to a distinguished 20-year career. Taylor's final match was Spain's 1-0 win over Portugal in the World Cup last 16 on July 6.

Taylor, who worked as a prison officer before becoming a professional referee, joined the Football League list ahead of the 2006-07 season and was promoted to the Premier League in 2010. Over his career, he officiated 668 professional matches in England, including 432 Premier League fixtures, and took charge of every major domestic cup final.

According to Taylor, 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 now right to step aside and look forward to transitioning to the next chapter of my career.

Taylor's career was marked by numerous high-profile appointments, including the 2015 EFL Cup final, two FA Cup finals in 2017 and 2020, the 2015 Community Shield, and the 2018 Championship play-off final. He also refereed several major UEFA fixtures, including the 2020 Super Cup, the 2021 Nations League final, and the 2023 Europa League final.

One of the most notable moments of his career came when he handled the Euro 2020 match between Denmark and Finland, which was halted when Christian Eriksen collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest. Taylor received widespread praise for his swift response and composure during the incident.

However, Taylor's career was not without controversy. He faced a great deal of abuse after the 2023 Europa League final, including a confrontation with then-Roma manager Jose Mourinho, who called him a disgrace twice in a post-match news conference. Taylor and his family were also subjected to abuse from supporters at Budapest Airport following the match.

Taylor spoke about the incident in 2025, saying that that's the worst situation I've dealt with in terms of abuse. He added that not only because I was travelling with family members at the time, but it also highlights the impact of people's behaviour on others.

Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer at Pro Ref, paid tribute to Taylor's contribution to the game, saying that Anthony has been a fantastic servant to football over many years, both domestically and on the international stage. Webb added that he has been repeatedly trusted to officiate in the biggest games.

Taylor's retirement creates a gap at the top of refereeing in the English game. Pro Ref, formerly known as PGMO, has merged its officials into one group for the 2026-27 season, which is intended to give greater opportunities to up-and-coming officials.

As Taylor moves into retirement, he leaves behind a legacy of 163 international matches and a reputation as a trusted, if often scrutinized, official. His departure comes at a time of transition for English refereeing.

Taylor had previously hinted that his time in the middle was naturally reaching its conclusion due to the age gap between him and the players. At 47, he felt that it was becoming increasingly challenging to maintain the levels of fitness required to officiate at the elite level.