Renowned English referee Anthony Taylor announces his retirement
Renowned English referee Anthony Taylor has announced his retirement from professional refereeing after a distinguished career spanning more than two decades and 831 matches.
Taylor, 47, is one of England's most prominent referees, having officiated 668 professional football matches in the country. His refereeing career will conclude with his final match, the World Cup round of 16 game between Portugal and Spain in the United States.
Over 16 seasons in the Premier League, Taylor officiated 432 top-flight matches and also refereed all major domestic cup finals. His accomplishments include the 2017 and 2020 FA Cup finals, the 2015 League Cup final, the 2015 FA Community Shield final, and the 2018 Championship play-off final.
Taylor also enjoyed a distinguished international career, spending 14 years on FIFA's list of international referees. During that time, he officiated matches in two World Cups (2022 and 2026), two European Championships (2020 and 2024), and two Club World Cups (2022 and 2025).
