The final whistle has blown for Anthony Taylor. The 47-year-old referee has announced his retirement with immediate effect, ending a 20-year career that spanned 831 matches. His last game was Spain's 1-0 win over Portugal in the World Cup last 16 on 6 July.
"Officiating at the elite level has been an immense privilege, but the pressure is intense and the scrutiny is constant," Taylor wrote on LinkedIn. "The time is now right to step aside and look forward to transitioning to the next chapter of my career."
“Referee Anthony Taylor retires after 20 years and 831 matches, citing intense pressure and constant scrutiny.”
A former prison officer, Taylor joined the Football League list in 2006–07 and was promoted to the Premier League in 2010. Over 16 seasons, he took charge of 432 top-flight matches and officiated every major domestic cup final — including two FA Cup finals, the 2015 League Cup final, the Community Shield and the Championship play-off final.
On the international stage, Taylor spent 14 years on Fifa's list, officiating 163 matches across two World Cups (2022 and 2026), two European Championships (2020 and 2024) and two Club World Cups. He was shortlisted for the 2022 World Cup final but ruled out because of political tensions between England and Argentina. Among his high-profile assignments: the 2020 Uefa Super Cup, the 2021 Nations League final, the 2023 Europa League final and the 2024 Champions League semi-final.
Taylor also received praise for his handling of the Euro 2020 match between Denmark and Finland after Christian Eriksen's cardiac arrest. But the job took a personal toll. In October 2025, he told the BBC his family no longer attend matches because of abuse.
Howard Webb, chief refereeing officer at Pro Ref, said: "Anthony has been a fantastic servant to the game over many years, both domestically and on the international stage. He has been repeatedly trusted to officiate in the biggest games. We thank him for his immense contribution."
Taylor thanked his assistants Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn, his refereeing colleagues, and his family for their "unwavering support" through the sacrifices the career demanded. What comes next for the Wythenshawe-born official remains unclear — but after 831 matches, the whistle has finally fallen silent.