Anthony Taylor has officially retired from refereeing, bringing an end to a distinguished career that saw him officiate at the highest level of English and international football.
The 47-year-old called time on his career after more than two decades and 831 matches, with his final appearance coming in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 between Spain and Portugal. Spain won the encounter 1-0 through Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time goal before going on to become world champions.
Taylor spent 16 seasons as a Premier League referee, taking charge of 432 matches. He also officiated the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.
Explaining his decision, Taylor said the demands of elite refereeing had become overwhelming despite the honour of serving at the highest level.
“Officiating at the elite level has been an immense privilege, but the pressure is intense and the scrutiny is constant. The time is now right to step aside and look forward to transitioning to the next chapter of my career.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to my two assistants Gary and Adam, my refereeing colleagues and everyone connected with the game for all their support over the years. Most importantly, I want to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support throughout the immense sacrifices this career has demanded,” he said.
Over the course of his career, Taylor officiated at two FIFA World Cups, the UEFA European Championships in 2020 and 2024, two FA Cup finals, the 2015 League Cup final and the 2018 Championship play-off final.
Howard Webb, chief refereeing officer of PGMOL, hailed Taylor as one of the finest referees English football has produced, praising both his professionalism and the guidance he provided to younger officials throughout his career.
