English referee Anthony Taylor has officially announced his retirement from refereeing after a career spanning more than 20 years, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic.
Taylor officiated 831 matches during his career, including every major domestic cup final in England. His final match came at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he took charge of Portugal’s Round of 16 clash against Spain before bringing the curtain down on his career at the age of 47.
For Roma supporters, Taylor’s name is impossible to forget. The English official was at the centre of one of the club’s most controversial nights in recent history during the 2023 Europa League final against Sevilla. Several decisions throughout the match drew fierce criticism from José Mourinho, Roma players, and supporters, who believed the Giallorossi were denied key penalties in the eventual penalty shootout defeat.
The fallout from that final became one of the defining moments of Taylor’s career. Mourinho famously confronted the referee after the match in the car park, while Roma fans continued to associate his name with the painful defeat in Budapest.
Although Taylor enjoyed one of the most distinguished refereeing careers in English football, his legacy among the Roma faithful will always be tied to that dramatic Europa League final.
Leave a Reply