'Anthony Taylor quitting is a huge pity - but grassroots referees will quit unless action is taken'

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Anthony Taylor's full-time whistle is such a pity — but sadly it is unexpected.

Referees across the UK will have spotted subtle signs Taylor, 47, had been weighing up retirement in recent months. He hinted in interviews at the pressures of refereeing, alluding to experiences with which many grassroots officials will have found far too familiar.

Is it any wonder then that Taylor — often described as the country's best referee — has hung up his whistle? I am a referee with nearly 10 years of experience and the issues Taylor has pointed out happen on park pitches and the semi-pro level. I've experienced myself, and seen my colleagues plagued by the ugly side.

Players surround the public enemy, managers use him or her as their scapegoat and refs are abused. Little is done to help us. Taylor's retirement — after 16 years at the top — will resonate with the approximate 28,000 of us in the UK. A staggering 7,000 of us leave the game each year and, with Taylor often regarded as an idol, I fear many more — from exciting prospects to veteran whistleblowers — will follow in his footsteps.

Announcing his retirement , Taylor said: "Officiating at the elite level has been an immense privilege, but the pressure is intense and the scrutiny is constant."

And, in October last year, Taylor, who is a former prison officer, said: "There's certainly been moments — and I won't be alone in this — there's certainly been moments where you are thinking, 'Is it worth it?... And certainly, moments where you're thinking, 'What's being said is completely unfair'."

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I, for one, was not surprised the Wythenshawe-born referee, who had been on Fifa's list of officials for 14 years, quit after overseeing Spain's 1-0 win over Portugal in the World Cup last 16 on 6 July .

I actually admired Taylor's strength for continuing after a chair and drinks were thrown in the direction of the English referee and his group as they made their way through a gathering of Roma fans at Budapest Airport. He had refereed Roma in the 2023 Europa League final, which Roma lost. The dad was ushered to a safe area by airport security, and since revealed his family had not attended big games following this incident.

Don't get me wrong — I have of course not encountered anything of such nature during my tenure, way below Taylor's level. I have been attacked after a game, though, and know multiple others who have been.

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In his interview last year, Taylor also said: "We have this archaic psychological tactic of 'let's bombard the ref or bombard the fourth official with the hope of getting a decision out of it'."

And he's right. It must stop. We will continue to lose amazing top-flight referees, we will continue to lose the dedicated grassroots officials who turn up week in, week in, in the gales, rain and snow. I know I am considering giving football the red card — and who can blame me?

Thank you, Anthony Taylor. Your service to the game has been fantastic. You've refereed more than 800 matches across two decades. You've officiated every major domestic cup final. Yet, you've been treated disgracefully time and time again.