Premier League referee Anthony Taylor retires days after World Cup clash

Anthony Taylor has announced his retirement from refereeing after the 2026 World Cup.

The 47-year-old was one of the most experienced officials in the Premier League and featured 433 times in the English top flight.

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Taylor hit 831 professional matches across club and world football but now decided to hang up his whistle.

His last match was the World Cup last 16 clash between Portugal and Spain on July 6, which the latter won 1-0.

“Officiating at the elite level has been an immense privilege, but the pressure is intense and the scrutiny is constant,” he said.

“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 [Beswick] and Adam [Nunn], 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.”

Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer at Pro Ref, said: “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 including Portugal against Spain in this summer’s World Cup which ultimately capped off an outstanding career.

“He’s consistently demonstrated over a sustained period why he is one of the best and most successful officials that English football has ever produced, but it’s not just his on-field achievements that see him as a role model to many.

“The professionalism he’s shown and the support for his colleagues and the next generation of officials looking to follow in his footsteps is testament to his character.

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“We thank him for his immense contribution to the game and wish him every success in the next chapter of his career.”

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Taylor was trusted with some of the biggest matches in club football such as two FA Cup finals and a Europa League final.

He officiated five matches across the 2022 and 2026 World Cups, and took charge of six Euro 2020 and 2024 fixtures.

His Premier League debut came in February 2010 when he oversaw a 1-0 home win for Fulham against Portsmouth.

Last season, Taylor refereed 31 different fixtures in the competition, including the opener that saw Liverpool beat Bournemouth 4-2.

He dished out 121 yellow cards during the campaign, the second-most of any referee.