Referee Anthony Taylor retires, citing intense pressure

Veteran referee Anthony Taylor has retired from officiating with immediate effect, citing the immense pressure and constant scrutiny that accompany elite-level matches. The 47-year-old concluded his 20-year career, which spanned 831 games, with Spain's 1-0 victory over Portugal in the World Cup's last 16 on July 6.

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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, who transitioned from a prison officer to a professional referee, earned promotion to the Premier League in 2010 after joining the Football League list in the 2006-07 season. He officiated 432 top-flight matches and was entrusted with every major domestic cup final. His international career included 163 matches, and he was on FIFA's list of officials for 14 years, selected for the 2020 Euros and the 2022 World Cup. He was a candidate for the 2022 World Cup final but was excluded due to political tensions between England and Argentina.

Howard Webb, chief refereeing officer at PGMOL, praised Taylor's service, noting his consistent selection for major games, including the World Cup match capping his career. Taylor's notable assignments included the 2015 EFL Cup final, two FA Cup finals in 2020 (making him the first referee since 1901 to do so in the same year), and the 2017 FA Cup final. He also refereed the 2015 Community Shield and the 2018 Championship play-off final.

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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.

Taylor's career was not without controversy or difficult moments. He received praise for his handling of the Euro 2020 match where Christian Eriksen collapsed. However, Roma boss Jose Mourinho publicly called Taylor a "disgrace" twice, leading to a ban for the manager. Taylor also experienced abuse, including being confronted by fans at Budapest Airport with his family after a Europa League final. He described this incident as the "worst situation" he had dealt with, highlighting the personal impact of public behavior.

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That's the worst situation I've dealt with in terms of abuse. Not only because I was travelling with family members at the time, but it also highlights the impact of people's behaviour on others. Even in a match like that, where there was actually no major mistakes in the game.