English referee Anthony Taylor, 47, has announced his retirement from professional refereeing after over two decades of officiating. More than 800 matches across the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, European and international competitions make him one of the most experienced referees of his generation.
His career was marked by high-profile assignments, including two FA Cup finals in 2017 and 2020 and the 2015 League Cup final. As a FIFA referee for fourteen years, Taylor handled high-stakes matches in European and global contexts. His final appointment was at the 2026 World Cup round of sixteen, in the match between Spain and Portugal that ended 1-0.
In Italy he is best remembered for the 2023 Europa League final between Roma and Sevilla, when José Mourinho verbally assaulted him, calling him a "disgrace." Taylor and his family had to be escorted by security to Budapest airport after threats from Roma supporters. An episode that drew the Italian league's attention to referee safety and the fallout from high-pressure officiating decisions.
