Anthony Taylor: Premier League referee blows whistle on 20-year career as retirement confirmed

Official has called time on career after World Cup conclusion

FIFA referee Anthony Taylor has announced his retirement after a 20-year career and 831 matches.

The 47-year-old official took charge of 668 professional domestic games and officiated at every major domestic cup final.

Taylor, who was promoted to the Premier League in 2010, referred at four major tournaments – the 2022 and 2026 World Cups and 2020 and 2024 European Championships.

In all, he took charge of 163 international matches and his final game was this month’s World Cup round of 16 tie between Portugal and Spain.

“Officiating at the elite level has been an immense privilege, but the pressure is intense and the scrutiny is constant,” Taylor said on the official England Football website.

“The time is now right to step aside and look forward to transitioning to the next chapter of my career.

Last game: Anthony Taylor

AFP/Getty

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to my two assistants Gary (Beswick) and Adam (Nunn), my refereeing colleagues and everyone connected with the game for all their support over the years.

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’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.”