Former Premier League Referee Anthony Taylor Takes on New Role in Turkey
In a significant development for international football officiating, Anthony Taylor, a former Premier League and World Cup referee, has taken on the position of director of elite refereeing within the Turkish Central Refereeing Committee. This announcement was made on Tuesday, following Taylor’s recent retirement after an impressive 22-year career that includes officiating a total of 831 matches.
The 47-year-old Taylor’s final match was the high-profile World Cup round-of-16 clash between Portugal and Spain, which was played last month in Dallas. His extensive experience at both domestic and international levels provides a solid foundation for his new role in Turkey.
In his statement regarding this new chapter, Taylor highlighted his eagerness to leverage his rich experience to enhance the strategic and technical development of elite refereeing in Turkey. He emphasized a commitment to collaborating with colleagues across the Federation to advance the skills of match officials and bolster the overarching refereeing framework in alignment with industry standards set by UEFA and FIFA.
Taylor’s transition to Turkey is part of a broader trend, as he joins other distinguished English referees, such as Howard Webb and Mark Clattenburg, who have pursued opportunities abroad following their departures from the Premier League. Over his 16-season tenure in the Premier League, Taylor officiated an impressive 432 matches, underscoring his extensive expertise and authority in officiating football.
