England referee Anthony Taylor retires after two decades

Veteran English referee Anthony Taylor has announced his retirement from officiating, concluding a distinguished career that spanned more than two decades.

His final assignment was the Round of 16 match between Portugal and Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup held in the United States. Taylor, 47, retires having officiated 668 professional matches, including 432 Premier League games over 16 seasons.

Throughout his domestic career, Taylor was entrusted with officiating every major English cup final. This included the 2015 League Cup final, the 2015 Community Shield, the 2017 and 2020 FA Cup finals, and the 2018 Championship play-off final.

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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.

Taylor also enjoyed a significant international career, spending 14 years on FIFA's international referees list. He officiated at two FIFA World Cups (2022 and 2026), UEFA Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, and the 2022 and 2025 FIFA Club World Cups. His international assignments included high-profile fixtures such as the UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Nations League final, FIFA Club World Cup final, UEFA Europa League final, and a UEFA Champions League semi-final.

Reflecting on his decision, Taylor described officiating at the highest level as an "immense privilege," acknowledging the intense pressure and constant scrutiny inherent in the role. He expressed deep gratitude to his assistants, fellow referees, and everyone connected with the game, particularly his family and friends for their unwavering support through the career's demands.

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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.