English Referee Anthony Taylor Announces Retirement: "Now is the time to step aside"

Premier League veteran referee Anthony Taylor will conclude his 16-year career officiating in England's top flight after the FIFA World Cup.

The 47-year-old referee officiated 831 matches across England, Europe, and international competitions, with his final match being the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash between Portugal and eventual champions Spain.

Domestically, Taylor has officiated all major domestic cup finals in English football, including the 2017 and 2020 FA Cup finals, the 2025 League Cup final, and 432 Premier League matches.

He was also on the FIFA International Referees List for 14 years and was selected to officiate the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Taylor stated that his decision to retire is related to the "immense pressure and constant scrutiny" that comes with the job.

In 2023, Roma fans publicly targeted him at Budapest Airport, after he had been criticized by then-Roma manager Jose Mourinho. Last year, Taylor revealed that due to the "expectation of perfection" placed on referees, his family no longer attended matches he officiated.

In a statement released through the refereeing organization Pro Ref, Taylor said: "It has been a tremendous honor to officiate at the highest level, but it comes with immense pressure, and the scrutiny never ceases. It's time to step aside and look forward to a new chapter in my career."

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