Anthony Taylor walked off the pitch after Spain beat Portugal 1-0 in the World Cup last 16 on 6 July. Few realised it would be the final match of his refereeing career.
On Tuesday, 21 July, Taylor announced his immediate retirement from professional officiating, ending a 20-year career that included 831 matches, 432 Premier League games, two World Cups and two European Championships. He is 47.
"Officiating at the elite level has been an immense privilege, but the pressure is intense and the scrutiny is constant," Taylor said in a statement. "The time is now right to step aside and look forward to transitioning to the next chapter of my career."
Anthony Taylor's Career: From Prison Officer To FIFA Referee
Taylor worked as a prison officer before becoming a full-time referee. He joined the Football League list ahead of the 2006-07 season and was promoted to the Premier League in 2010 after four years of officiating in the lower divisions.
By 2013, FIFA had added him to their international list. From that point onwards, his his appointments steadily increased in profile. He refereed the 2015 EFL Cup final, where Chelsea beat Tottenham 2-0.
He took charge of the 2017 FA Cup final, where Arsenal defeated Chelsea 2-1, and then the 2020 FA Cup final between the same two clubs, making him the first referee since 1901 to officiate two separate FA Cup finals.
He also refereed the 2020 UEFA Super Cup, the 2021 UEFA Nations League final between France and Spain, and the 2023 Europa League final in Budapest, where Sevilla beat Roma on penalties. In total, Taylor oversaw 668 professional matches in England and 163 at international level, 831 in total.
The Most Difficult Moment Of Anthony Taylor's Career
The 2023 Europa League final in Budapest became the most difficult night of Taylor's career. After Sevilla beat Roma on penalties, then-Roma manager Jose Mourinho called Taylor "a disgrace" in a post-match interview before confronting him directly in a car park at the stadium.
Mourinho received a four-match UEFA ban for the incident. At Budapest Airport the following morning, Taylor and his family were surrounded by Roma supporters.
Videos circulated on social media showing a chair thrown in their direction, and security personnel escorted them away from the crowd.
UEFA publicly condemned the incident. Despite the incident, Taylor continued to officiate at the highest level at the highest level for another three years despite what he and his family had experienced in Budapest.
His handling of Christian Eriksen's cardiac arrest during Denmark's Euro 2020 group game against Finland drew widespread praise from across football. Taylor stopped the match immediately, kept players calm, and created the space for medical staff to work.
Those present described his composure as exceptional under circumstances most referees will never face.
What Anthony Taylor's Retirement Means For English Refereeing
The 47-year-old's exit also comes at a challenging time for Pro Ref. The organisation is currently merging its officials into a single group for the 2026-27 campaign, meaning Taylor's exit lands during an already transitional period for the organisation.
Howard Webb, chief refereeing officer at Pro Ref, paid tribute on Tuesday: "Anthony has been a fantastic servant to the game over many years, both domestically and on the international stage," Webb said.
"He has been repeatedly trusted to officiate in the biggest games, including Portugal against Spain in this summer's World Cup, which ultimately capped off an outstanding career."
Taylor was shortlisted to referee the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar but was removed from consideration due to political tensions between England and finalists Argentina. This decision came entirely from outside football's officiating structures.
In his retirement statement, Taylor specifically thanked his assistants Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn, who worked alongside him for the majority of his international career, and acknowledged the demands his role placed on those closest to him.
"I want to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support throughout the immense sacrifices this career has demanded," he said.
