Anthony Taylor Retires After 16 Years as Premier League Referee
Long-serving Premier League referee Anthony Taylor has announced his retirement after 16 years in England’s top flight.
The 47-year-old will end his refereeing career after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His final match was the Round of 16 game between Portugal and eventual champions Spain.
Taylor finishes his career after officiating 831 matches across English, European and international football.
In England, he took charge of 432 Premier League matches and refereed every major domestic cup final, including the FA Cup finals in 2017 and 2020, and the League Cup final in 2015.
He also spent 14 years on FIFA’s international list and represented England at the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups. During his career, he officiated 163 international matches and worked at two UEFA European Championships and two FIFA Club World Cups.
Speaking after announcing his retirement, Taylor said it was the right time to step away because of the pressure that comes with the job.
“Officiating at the highest 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 the next chapter of my career,” he said.
Taylor faced one of the toughest moments of his career in 2023 when he and his family were confronted by angry Roma supporters at Budapest Airport after the Europa League final. Former Roma manager Jose Mourinho had strongly criticised his performance after the match.
Last year, Taylor revealed that his family no longer attended matches he officiated because of the abuse directed at referees. He also said the expectation for referees to be perfect had made him think about leaving the profession on several occasions.
His final Premier League match was West Ham United’s 3-0 victory over Leeds United on the last day of the 2025/26 season. Despite the win, West Ham were relegated to the Championship.
Taylor leaves the game as one of the most experienced referees in Premier League history, having overseen more than 400 top-flight matches and officiated in some of football’s biggest competitions.
