Referee Anthony Taylor, who clashed with Bento and Son, retires citing pressure

Anthony Taylor, a prominent English referee known to football fans worldwide, has announced his retirement. The 48-year-old officiated matches involving prominent figures like South Korea's coach Paulo Bento and star player Son Heung-min, and his career spanned 20 years.

Taylor stated that the immense pressure and constant scrutiny at the highest level of football led to his decision to step down. "It was a tremendous honor to officiate at the highest level of the game," he said. "But the pressure is immense, and the eyes of scrutiny and criticism are endless. It is time to step down."

Taylor began his professional refereeing career in 2006 and was promoted to the Premier League in 2010, overseeing 432 matches. He became a FIFA international referee in 2013, officiating 163 international matches. His career included appearances at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the 2026 World Cup, Euro 2020, and Euro 2024. His final match was on December 7th between Spain and Portugal.

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It was a tremendous honor to officiate at the highest level of the game. But the pressure is immense, and the eyes of scrutiny and criticism are endless. It is time to step down.

While Taylor received praise for his quick thinking in stopping a Euro 2020 match when Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest, he also has a history of controversial decisions involving Korean football. He sent off coach Paulo Bento for protesting at the end of the 2022 World Cup match between South Korea and Ghana. Additionally, in December 2019, he issued a red card to Son Heung-min during a Premier League match between Tottenham and Chelsea.

Howard Webb, Chief Refereeing Officer of England's Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), lauded Taylor's dedication and professionalism. "Taylor was an outstanding referee who dedicated many years to football on domestic and international stages," Webb said. "He was trusted in big games, and his professionalism on and off the pitch, as well as his support for younger referees, will be a great legacy."

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Taylor was an outstanding referee who dedicated many years to football on domestic and international stages. He was trusted in big games, and his professionalism on and off the pitch, as well as his support for younger referees, will be a great legacy.