{"success":true,"data":{"id":"f8458b21-40e0-4fbd-bf39-bfbb18a4fdf2","title":"Premier League referee Anthony Taylor announces retirement after 20-year career","summary":"US Edition Change Support Now × \"Clear search box\") Custom Search Sort by Relevance Date NewsNews World CupWorld Cup SportsSports CultureCulture LifestyleLifestyle MoneyMoney TravelTravel PremiumPremium More More Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the si...","content":"US Edition Change\n\nSupport Now\n\n[×](javascript:void(0) \"Clear search box\")\n\nCustom Search\n\nSort by\n\nRelevance\n\nDate\n\n*   News[News](https://www.independent.co.uk/us)\n\n*   World Cup[World Cup](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup)\n\n*   Sports[Sports](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport)\n\n*   Culture[Culture](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment)\n\n*   Lifestyle[Lifestyle](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style)\n\n*   Money[Money](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money)\n\n*   Travel[Travel](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/travel)\n\n*   Premium[Premium](https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium)\n\nMore\n\nMore\n\n### Thank you for registering\n\nPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in\n\n# Premier League referee Anthony Taylor announces retirement after 20-year career\n\n## Taylor officiated at four major tournaments – the 2022 and 2026 World Cups and 2020 and 2024 European Championships\n\n[Rich Amofa](https://www.independent.co.uk/author/rich-amofa)Tuesday 21 July 2026 20:21 BST\n\n*   Copy link  \n*   Bookmark  \n*   [Comments](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/anthony-taylor-referee-retirement-premier-league-world-cup-b3019071.html#comments-area)Go to comments  \n\n## Bookmark popover\n\nRemoved from bookmarks\n\nClose popover\n\nClose\n\nPowered By\n\n10 Sec\n\n10\n\n00\n\nJose Mourinho blasts Anthony Taylor’s refereeing after Sevilla loss in Europa League final\n\nNext video in\n\nNext\n\nKEEP WATCHING\n\nJose Mourinho’s criticism of Anthony Taylor’s refereeing after Roma’s defeat to Sevilla in the 2023 Europa League final\n\n### Your support helps us to tell the story\n\nFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.\n\nAt such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.\n\nThe Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.\n\n**Your support makes all the difference.**\n\n[FIFA](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/fifa) referee [Anthony Taylor](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/anthony-taylor) has announced his [retirement](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/retirement) after a career spanning 20 year and 831 matches.\n\nThe 47-year-old [Manchester](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/manchester) official oversaw 668 professional domestic games, officiating at every major domestic cup final.\n\nPromoted to the [Premier League](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/premier-league) in 2010, Taylor refereed at four major tournaments: the 2022 and 2026 World Cups, and the 2020 and 2024 European Championships.\n\nHe took charge of 163 international matches, with his final game being this month’s World Cup round of 16 tie between Portugal and Spain.\n\n“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.\n\nUndo\n\nUndo\n\n[](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/r/product-update/quickbooks-improvements-2026)[The QuickBooks updates small businesses asked for. QuickBooks | [Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)[Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/r/product-update/quickbooks-improvements-2026 \"The QuickBooks updates small businesses asked for.\")\n\nUndo\n\n[](https://gateway.app.shopperexperts.com/track)[Drivers in North Charleston Save Hundreds With This Tip Carxplore | [Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)[Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)](https://gateway.app.shopperexperts.com/track \"Drivers in North Charleston Save Hundreds With This Tip\")\n\nUndo\n\n“The time is now right to step aside and look forward to transitioning to the next chapter of my career.\n\nTaylor refereed a total of 831 matches in his career(John Walton/PA Wire)\n\n“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.\n\n“Most importantly, I want to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support throughout the immense sacrifices this career has demanded.”\n\n[Howard Webb](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/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.\n\n“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.\n\n“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.”\n\n[Taylor](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/anthony-taylor) previously admitted [there were times he had considered quitting earlier](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/anthony-taylor-referee-premier-league-family-abuse-b2842979.html) because of the [constant barrage of abuse](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/kick-it-out-football-discrimination-abuse-record-high-b2802304.html) – and revealed his family no longer attended high-profile matches after [he was harassed by Roma fans at an airport](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/anthony-taylor-roma-fans-video-jose-mourinho-b2350161.html) in 2023.\n\nFollowing an ill-tempered affair at the Puskas Arena – with Sevilla eventually beating Roma, then managed by [Jose Mourinho](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/jose-mourinho), after a penalty shootout – Taylor, who issued 13 yellow cards during the match, was [accosted by angry fans at the airport](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/anthony-taylor-referee-jose-mourinho-roma-video-b2350347.html) as he travelled home.\n\nIn an interview with [_BBC Sport_](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c2dn9lkp0e5o), Taylor reflected on the “archaic” culture which he feels surrounds the game.\n\n“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?’” he said.","source_name":"The Independent","source_url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/anthony-taylor-referee-retirement-premier-league-world-cup-b3019071.html","url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/anthony-taylor-referee-retirement-premier-league-world-cup-b3019071.html","author":"Rich Amofa","author_name":"Rich Amofa","published_at":"2026-07-21T19:21:02.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-21T19:21:02.000Z","image_url":"https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/01/08/22/33/Arsenal-v-Liverpool-Premier-League-Emirates-Stadium-al28a615.jpeg","category":"sport","topic":"sport","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":4,"word_count":785,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot","language":null}}