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Long-serving Premier League referee Anthony Taylor is stepping down after 16 years in England’s top flight at the end of the World Cup.
The 47-year-old blew his whistle after 831 appearances in English, European and international games, with his final match being the World Cup last-16 clash between Portugal and tournament winners Spain.
Domestically, Taylor refereed every major domestic English Cup final, 2017 and 2020 FA Cup Finals and 215 League Cup Finals as well as 432 Premier League matches.
He also served 14 years on the FIFA international list and was selected to represent England at both the 2022 and 2026 World Cups.
In announcing his retirement, Taylor suggested his decision was due to the “intense” pressure and “constant” scrutiny he faced in the role.
In a statement via refereeing body Pro Ref, formerly PGMOL, Taylor said: “It’s a huge advantage to officiate at the elite level, but the pressure is intense and the scrutiny constant. Looking forward to stepping aside now and transitioning into the next chapter of my career.”
2023 was publicly targeted by Roma fans at Budapest Airport after being criticized by their then manager Jose Mourinho following the club’s Europa League final defeat to Sevilla.
Last year, he revealed that his family no longer came to matches where he was officiating and criticized the “expectations of perfection” placed on referees, admitting that he had repeatedly considered quitting the game.
Commenting on the incident in Hungary, he said BBC Sport: “This is definitely the worst situation I’ve ever dealt with in terms of abuse.
“Not only because I was traveling with family members at the time, but it also highlights the impact of human behavior on others.
“It makes you reflect on whether you made a mistake traveling with your family in the first place.”
Taylor refereed more Premier League games than anyone else in 2025/26, with his last game being West Ham’s 3-0 final-day win over Leeds, which was not enough to save the Hammers from relegation to the Championship.
The Premier League has no set retirement age for referees, with several officials continuing into their 50s, including Neil Swarbrick and Graham Scott, who refereed in the top flight until they were 52 and 56 respectively.
The Premier League rules have changed for the 2026/27 season
- Players receiving treatment or assessment on the pitch must now remain off for at least one minute (previously 30 seconds).
- Referees will use a five-second countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks. Delayed restarts may result in possession/restarts by opponents.
- Delayed restarts may result in possession/restarts by opponents.
- Substituted players have 10 seconds to leave the field. If they exceed the limit, the replacement player must wait until the next stoppage after one minute has elapsed before entering.
- VAR can review cases where a player is shown a second yellow card which turns into a red card.
- VAR cannot intervene to recommend a second yellow card if the referee does not initially give one.
