Anthony Taylor has been appointed as the referee for Chelsea’s opening Premier League game against Manchester City on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.
Taylor, who has been a controversial figure in recent months, will oversee this high-profile match between two of the Premier League’s top teams. His refereeing has faced criticism over the past year, particularly for several high-profile mistakes.
One notable incident occurred last November during the Wolves vs. Newcastle United match. Taylor awarded a penalty to Newcastle after Hwang Hee-chan was judged to have fouled Fabian Schar. Replays showed Hwang had pulled out of the tackle, and the VAR did not overturn the decision. Callum Wilson scored the penalty, leading to a 2-2 draw.
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Taylor also faced scrutiny for awarding a penalty against Marc Cucurella for a supposed foul on Erling Haaland, despite replays showing both players had a hold of each other’s shirts, casting doubt on the decision.
The appointment has drawn mixed reactions, with Chelsea fans hoping Taylor’s presence does not affect their chances, especially since they have not beaten Manchester City since 2021.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (pictured). Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn. Fourth official: Darren England. VAR: Michael Salisbury. Assistant VAR: Dan Cook.
In other news, Chelsea is still negotiating with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of Joao Felix, following the collapse of a deal for forward Samu Omorodion over the weekend.
