Anthony Taylor, the former Premier League and World Cup referee, has begun a new chapter in his football career by joining the Turkish Football Federation as director of elite refereeing. The appointment arrives only weeks after the 47-year-old confirmed his retirement from active officiating, bringing an end to a two-decade career on the pitch.
During his time as a match official, Taylor took charge of 668 professional domestic fixtures and represented the elite tier of refereeing at some of the sport's biggest tournaments, including Euro 2020 and the World Cups of 2022 and 2026. His move into administration was confirmed by Trinity Chambers, the legal firm representing him, with barrister Fraser Williamson speaking on Taylor's behalf to the Press Association.
In his new capacity, Taylor will oversee the strategic and technical direction of top-level refereeing in Turkey. Part of his brief involves helping the federation improve its pool of match officials and modernize its refereeing structures so that they meet the standards set by UEFA and FIFA. The role takes on added significance given the difficulties Turkish refereeing has faced recently, most notably a betting scandal that surfaced last autumn and triggered a formal investigation by the Turkish Football Federation.
Speaking about his new position, Taylor said he was