English referee Anthony Taylor has announced his retirement from officiating with immediate effect, bringing an end to a distinguished 20-year career in which he took charge of more than 800 matches.
The 47-year-old said the constant pressure and scrutiny associated with elite refereeing influenced his decision to step away from the game.
"Officiating at the elite level has been an immense privilege, but the pressure is intense, and the scrutiny is constant," Taylor said. "The time is now right to step aside and look forward to transitioning to the next chapter of my career."
Taylor's final match was Spain's 1-0 victory over Portugal in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
He officiated 432 Premier League matches and oversaw every major domestic cup final, including the 2015 EFL Cup final and the 2017 and 2020 FA Cup finals, becoming the first referee since 1901 to officiate two FA Cup finals.
On the international stage, Taylor was a FIFA-listed referee for 14 years, taking charge of 163 matches, including UEFA Euro 2020, Euro 2024 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief Howard Webb praised Taylor's contribution, describing him as "a fantastic servant to the game" who had earned the trust to officiate football's biggest occasions.
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