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FIFA referee Anthony Taylor has announced his retirement after a career spanning 20 year and 831 matches.
The 47-year-old Manchester official oversaw 668 professional domestic games, officiating at every major domestic cup final.
Promoted to the Premier League in 2010, Taylor refereed at four major tournaments: the 2022 and 2026 World Cups, and the 2020 and 2024 European Championships.
He took charge of 163 international matches, with his final game being 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.
“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.
“Most importantly, I want to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support throughout the immense sacrifices this career has demanded.”
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.”
Taylor previously admitted there were times he had considered quitting earlier because of the constant barrage of abuse – and revealed his family no longer attended high-profile matches after he was harassed by Roma fans at an airport in 2023.
Following an ill-tempered affair at the Puskas Arena – with Sevilla eventually beating Roma, then managed by Jose Mourinho, after a penalty shootout – Taylor, who issued 13 yellow cards during the match, was accosted by angry fans at the airport as he travelled home.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Taylor reflected on the “archaic” culture which he feels surrounds the game.
“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.
“And certainly, moments where you’re thinking, ‘What’s being said is completely unfair’.”
Taylor continued: “We have this archaic psychological tactic of ‘let’s bombard the ref or bombard the fourth official with the hope of getting a decision out of it’.”
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