_48.jpg) Taylor in 2025 | |||
| Born | (1978-10-20)20 October 1978 (age 47)[1] Wythenshawe,Manchester, England | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2002–2004 | Northern Premier League | Referee | |
| 2004–2006 | Football Conference | Referee | |
| 2006–2010 | The Football League | Referee | |
| 2010–present | Premier League | Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2013–present | FIFA listed | Referee | |
Anthony Taylor (born 20 October 1978) is an English professionalfootballreferee fromWythenshawe,Manchester. In 2010, he was promoted to the list ofSelect Group Referees who officiate primarily in thePremier League, and in 2013 became a listed referee forFIFA allowing him to referee European and international matches. In 2015, he officiated theFootball League Cup final atWembley Stadium whenChelsea defeatedTottenham Hotspur 2–0. Taylor returned to Wembley later that year to officiate theCommunity Shield asArsenal beat Chelsea 1–0. He refereed the2017 and2020 FA Cup finals, both between Chelsea and Arsenal; Arsenal won on both occasions 2–1. Upon the selection, he became the first man to referee a second FA Cup final sinceArthur Kingscott in1901.[2]
Taylor was a student atAltrincham Grammar School for Boys.[3]
Taylor started refereeing in theNorthern Premier League in 2002,[4] progressing to officiate in theConference North in 2004.[5] He was appointed tothe Football League referees' list at the start of the2006–07 season and his first appointment was a 0–0 draw betweenWrexham andPeterborough United in aLeague Two match in August 2006.[6] In November 2006, he refereed anEngland under-19s internationalfriendly match against Switzerland under-19s atGresty Road, the home ofCrewe Alexandra; England won 3–2.[7]
Taylor's firstPremier League appointment was a February 2010 encounter betweenFulham andPortsmouth, which Fulham won 1–0. He refereed one more game in the top-flight during that season before being promoted to the League's list ofSelect Group of Referees for 2010–11. In September 2010 he took charge of his fourth Premier League match, contested byBlackburn Rovers and Fulham. The match ended 1–1.[8]
Taylor sent off three players in his first game of the2011–12 season.Middlesbrough won 1–0 atLeeds United in a fixture which sawJonny Howson andMax Gradel of Leeds and Boro'sTony McMahon dismissed, all for second bookable offences.[9] Taylor refereed a total of 34 matches that season and dismissed eight players in total, including the three at Leeds. Taylor became aFIFA listed referee on 1 January 2013, making him eligible to officiateUEFA European and FIFA international competitive games. In May 2013 he was fourth official toAndre Marriner for theFA Cup Final. On the opening day of the2013–14 season Taylor refereedAston Villa's 3–1 victory away at Arsenal. He awarded Villa two penalties and dismissed Arsenal'sLaurent Koscielny for two bookable offences.Arsène Wenger described Taylor's officiating of the match as "stubborn",[10] while Villa managerPaul Lambert said that he thought the official "had a good game".[11]
On 1 March 2015, Taylor was the referee for theFootball League Cup final between Chelsea andTottenham Hotspur.[12] Taylor refereed both the2015 FA Community Shield and the2015 Football League Cup final.[13][14] On 26 April 2017, Taylor was chosen to be the main referee for the2017 FA Cup final.[15] On 26 May 2018 he was chosen to officiate the2018 EFL Championship play-off final. On 16 September 2020, Taylor was chosen to be the main referee for the2020 UEFA Super Cup.[16]
On 12 June 2021, Taylor officiated aUEFA Euro 2020 group stage match between Finland and Denmark. In the 43rd minute, Danish midfielderChristian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch and required emergency treatment on the pitch before being transferred to a local hospital and stabilised. Taylor was praised for his calm but quick reaction to the situation, signalling for medical attention within seconds.[17] The match was resumed later in the day once it became clear Eriksen's condition had improved. Taylor's earlier training in the prison service atHMP Manchester was cited as helpful for the situation by mentorChris Foy.[18][19] In October 2021, Taylor was chosen to referee the2021 UEFA Nations League Final betweenSpain andFrance.[20]
In a May 2022FIFApronouncement, Taylor was listed as one of six English officials to oversee matches at that November and December'sWorld Cup. The list also included refereeMichael Oliver and four compatriot assistant referees—Simon Bennett, Gary Beswick, Stuart Burt, and Adam Nunn.[21] In May 2023,UEFAannounced Taylor as the referee for the2023 UEFA Europa League final, withGary Beswick andAdam Nunn as assistants, andMichael Oliver as fourth official.[22] In July 2024, Taylor was chosen to referee aknockout stage match betweenSpain andGermany.[23]
| Season | Games | Total | per game | Total | per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | 26 | 78 | 3.00 | 5 | 0.19 |
| 2007–08 | 36 | 105 | 2.92 | 10 | 0.28 |
| 2008–09 | 38 | 91 | 2.39 | 4 | 0.11 |
| 2009–10 | 36 | 92 | 2.56 | 8 | 0.22 |
| 2010–11 | 32 | 118 | 3.69 | 12 | 0.36 |
| 2011–12 | 34 | 106 | 3.12 | 8 | 0.24 |
| 2012–13 | 35 | 89 | 2.54 | 6 | 0.17 |
| 2013–14 | 31 | 102 | 3.29 | 3 | 0.10 |
| 2014–15 | 39 | 160 | 4.10 | 9 | 0.23 |
| 2015–16 | 44 | 147 | 3.34 | 6 | 0.14 |
| 2016–17 | 41 | 161 | 3.93 | 5 | 0.12 |
| 2017–18 | 40 | 147 | 3.68 | 6 | 0.15 |
| 2018–19 | 50 | 175 | 3.50 | 10 | 0.20 |
| 2019–20 | 48 | 202 | 4.21 | 9 | 0.19 |
| 2020–21 | 42 | 136 | 3.23 | 4 | 0.10 |
| 2021–22 | 44 | 165 | 3.75 | 7 | 0.16 |
| 2022–23 | 43 | 166 | 3.86 | 6 | 0.14 |
Statistics for all competitions. No records are available prior to 2006–07.[24]
Sporting positions Anthony Taylor | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | 2020 UEFA Super Cup Referee | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | 2021 UEFA Nations League Final Referee | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | 2022 FIFA Club World Cup Final Referee | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | 2023 UEFA Europa League Final Referee | Succeeded by |
