English referee Anthony Taylor has accepted a position as director of elite refereeing with the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) following his retirement from officiating. The announcement came after Taylor officiated his final matches at the recent World Cup.
Taylor, 47, retired after a 20-year career that saw him officiate 668 professional domestic matches, as well as tournaments including Euro 2020 and the 2022 and 2026 World Cups. His new role with the TFF will involve leading the strategic and technical development of elite referees within the organization, aiming to strengthen its refereeing program in alignment with UEFA and FIFA standards.
In a ceremony that mirrored the unveiling of a high-profile player, Taylor was presented with a Turkish football shirt by TFF officials.
Howard Webb, chief refereeing officer at English officials' body Pro Ref, previously described Taylor as 'one of the best and most successful officials that English football has ever produced.' UEFA referees' chief Roberto Rosetti also commended Taylor's handling of the cardiac arrest incident involving Denmark's Christian Eriksen during a Euro 2020 match, calling his composure in the situation 'amazing.'
Taylor, who was promoted to the Premier League in 2010, cited the intense pressure and constant scrutiny of elite-level officiating as reasons for his retirement. He expressed anticipation for the next chapter of his career. The Turkish Football Federation has faced challenges in recent years, including a betting scandal that prompted an investigation last autumn.