The 47-year-old's final game came on the world stage as he refereed Spain's 1-0 victory over Portugal in the 2026 World Cup last-16 stage on 6 July.

Taylor leaves the game having officiated 831 matches across domestic, European and international competitions, including 432 Premier League fixtures. He was promoted to the top flight in 2010 after initially joining the Football League referees' list in the 2006-07 season.

A former prison officer before becoming a professional referee, Taylor went on to become one of England's most experienced officials, taking charge of every major domestic cup final during his career.

Announcing his decision, Taylor said the demands of refereeing at the highest level had played a major role in his choice to step away.

"Officiating at the elite level has been an immense privilege, but the pressure is intense and the scrutiny is constant," he said.

"The time is now right to step aside and look forward to transitioning to the next chapter of my career.

"I want to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support throughout the immense sacrifices this career has demanded."

Taylor had been a Fifa-listed official for 14 years and represented England at major tournaments, including the 2022 and 2026 World Cups as well as the 2020 and 2024 European Championships. In total, he took charge of 163 international matches.

He was also praised for his handling of one of football's most difficult moments when Denmark's Euro 2020 match against Finland was suspended after Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch.

However, Taylor's career was also marked by moments of controversy, most notably after the 2023 Europa League final between Sevilla and Roma. Following Roma's defeat on penalties, then-manager Jose Mourinho criticised Taylor publicly, calling him a "disgrace", before later confronting him in a car park.

The referee and his family were subsequently targeted by angry Roma supporters at Budapest Airport, an incident Taylor later described as the worst abuse he had experienced.

"That's the worst situation I've dealt with in terms of abuse," Taylor told BBC Sport.

"Not only because I was travelling with family members at the time, but it also highlights the impact of people's behaviour on others."

Taylor had previously admitted the growing expectations placed on referees and the demand for perfection had made him consider leaving the profession.

Despite the challenges, Taylor earned widespread respect for his consistency and was regularly selected for the biggest fixtures. He was even shortlisted as a potential referee for the 2022 World Cup final but was ruled out because of political tensions surrounding the match between Argentina and France.

Howard Webb, chief refereeing officer at Pro Ref, praised Taylor's contribution to the game.

"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. We thank him for his immense contribution to the game and wish him every success in the next chapter of his career."

Taylor's retirement leaves a significant vacancy among England's leading referees, with Pro Ref preparing for a new structure ahead of the 2026-27 season designed to create more opportunities for emerging officials.

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