At the age of 47 years old, and after refereeing 668 matches in professional English football, and 163 international matches, Anthony Taylor announces his retirement from refereeing, bringing to an end one of the most accomplished officiating careers in English football.
“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 stated.
The English referee concludes his career after officiating the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Portugal and Spain in the United States, his final appointment on the international stage.
Over 16 Premier League seasons, Taylor officiated 432 top-flight matches and took charge of every major domestic cup final.
His domestic honors include officiating the FA Cup finals in 2017 and 2020 between Chelsea and Arsenal, the 2015 League Cup final between Chelsea and Tottenham, the 2015 Community Shield between Chelsea and Arsenal, and the 2018 Championship play-off final between Fulham and Aston Villa.
Internationally, Taylor spent 14 years on FIFA’s International List and refereed at two FIFA World Cups (2022 and 2026), two UEFA European Championships (2020 and 2024), and two FIFA Club World Cups (2022 and 2025).
Across 163 international fixtures, he was selected for several of football’s biggest occasions, including the UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Nations League final, FIFA Club World Cup final, UEFA Europa League final, and a UEFA Champions League semi-final.
In the statement announcing his retirement, Taylor also expressed gratitude to those who supported him throughout his journey.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to my two assistants Gary and Adam, my refereeing colleagues and everyone connected with the game for all their support over the years,” he said.
“Most importantly, I want to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support throughout the immense sacrifices this career has demanded.”
