England referee Anthony Taylor announces retirement

English referee Anthony Taylor has announced his retirement from officiating after a career spanning more than two decades, bringing the curtain down following the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In a statement on Tuesday, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) confirmed that Taylor’s final assignment was the Round of 16 clash between Portugal and Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.

The 47-year-old retires after officiating 668 professional matches, including 432 Premier League games across 16 seasons. During his domestic career, he took charge of every major English cup final, including the 2015 League Cup final, the 2015 Community Shield, the 2017 and 2020 FA Cup finals, and the 2018 Championship play-off final.

Taylor also enjoyed an illustrious international career after spending 14 years on FIFA’s international referees list. He officiated at the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups, UEFA Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, as well as the 2022 and 2025 FIFA Club World Cups.

Across 163 international matches, he handled several high-profile fixtures, 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.

Reflecting on his decision, Taylor said officiating at the highest level had been “an immense privilege” despite the constant pressure and scrutiny that came with the role.

“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.

“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. Most importantly, I want to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support throughout the immense sacrifices this career has demanded.”

PGMOL Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb paid tribute to Taylor, describing him as one of the finest officials English football has produced.

“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 including Portugal against Spain in this summer’s World Cup which ultimately capped off an outstanding career,” Webb said.

“He’s consistently demonstrated over a sustained period why he is one of the best and most successful officials that English football has ever produced, but it’s not just his on-field achievements that see him as a role model to many. The professionalism he’s shown and the support for his colleagues and the next generation of officials looking to follow in his footsteps is testament to his character.

“We thank him for his immense contribution to the game and wish him every success in the next chapter of his career.” 

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