After 830 Matches: Anthony Taylor Ends His Refereeing Career

One of England's most distinguished football referees, Anthony Taylor, has announced his retirement from elite officiating. He brings to an end a remarkable career spanning over two decades, during which he officiated 831 matches.

The 47-year-old Taylor established himself as one of England's most successful referees, having overseen 668 professional matches in the country. His retirement follows his final assignment – the Round of 16 clash between Portugal and Spain at the FIFA World Cup in the USA.

Over 16 seasons in the Premier League, Taylor served as the main referee for 432 top-flight matches and officiated every major domestic cup final. His accolades include the FA Cup finals in 2017 and 2020, the League Cup final in 2015, the Community Shield in 2015, and the Championship Play-off final in 2018.

Taylor also boasts an exceptional international career, having been on the FIFA list for 14 years. During this period, he officiated matches at two World Cups (2022 and 2026), two European Championships (2020 and 2024), and two FIFA Club World Cups (2022 and 2025).

In his 163 international matches, Taylor was entrusted with officiating some of the biggest fixtures in world football. These include the UEFA Super Cup in 2020, the Nations League final in 2021, the Club World Cup final in 2022, the Europa League final in 2023, and a Champions League semi-final in 2024.

Before becoming one of Europe's leading referees, Taylor served as an additional assistant referee in several prestigious UEFA finals, including the UEFA Super Cup in 2014, the Europa League final in 2015, and both the Champions League and European Championship finals in 2016.

Reflecting on his career, Taylor stated: “Officiating at the elite level has been an immense privilege, but the pressure is intense, and scrutiny is constant. Now is the right time to step away and look forward to the next chapter of my career.”

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to my two assistants, Gary and Adam, to my fellow referees, and to everyone involved in the game for their support over the years. Most importantly, I want to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support amidst the immense sacrifices this career demanded,” he added.

Howard Webb, Chief Refereeing Officer at Pro Ref, commented: “Anthony has been a fantastic servant to the game for many years, both domestically and internationally. He was repeatedly entrusted with officiating the biggest matches, including Portugal versus Spain at the World Cup this summer, which ultimately capped an outstanding career.”

“He consistently demonstrated over a long period why he is one of the best and most successful referees English football has ever produced. But it's not just his achievements on the pitch that make him a role model. The professionalism he shows and the support for his colleagues and the next generation of referees who want to follow in his footsteps are a testament to his character,” Webb continued. “We thank him for his immense contribution to the game and wish him success in the next chapter of his career.”