Anthony Taylor, who retired last month after a two-decade career as a top-level match official, has taken up a new position as director of elite refereeing for the Turkish Football Federation (TFF).
The 47-year-old Englishman confirmed his appointment, expressing enthusiasm for the challenge that lies ahead in his new administrative role. "I am delighted to be joining the Turkish Football Federation and look forward to the opportunity ahead," Taylor said.
His move to Turkey comes at a significant moment for the country's football governance. Roughly ten months ago, a five-year investigation into refereeing practices in Turkish football uncovered that 371 of the 571 match officials working in the country held betting accounts, a revelation that sent shockwaves through the sport and raised serious questions about the integrity of officiating standards.
Following the findings, TFF president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu acknowledged the scale of the problem and stressed the need for reform. "If we want to bring Turkish football to the place it deserves, we have to clean up whatever dirt there is," he said at the time. Taylor's appointment appears to be part of the federation's broader effort to restore confidence in its refereeing system and elevate standards across the board.
Taylor brings with him a wealth of experience gained over a distinguished 20-year career as a referee. He officiated 668 professional domestic matches, establishing himself as one of the most respected officials in English football before expanding his profile onto the international stage. His résumé includes appearances at Euro 2020, as well as the 2022 and 2026 World Cups, cementing his reputation as one of the sport's most trusted arbiters during a period when refereeing decisions were subject to intense scrutiny thanks to the growing influence of video assistant technology.
His final match as an active referee came last month, when he took charge of Spain's 1-0 victory over Portugal in the last 16 of the World Cup on 6 July, a fixture that marked the conclusion of his on-field career before he announced his retirement from officiating.
Now, rather than stepping away from the game entirely, Taylor is transitioning into a leadership position that will see him oversee the development and management of elite officiating in Turkish football. The role places him in charge of shaping the standards, training, and oversight of the country's top referees at a time when the federation is under pressure to demonstrate meaningful change following the betting scandal.
For the TFF, bringing in a figure of Taylor's international standing and experience is likely intended to signal a commitment to transparency and professionalism within its refereeing structures. His background officiating at the highest levels of the European and global game, combined with his familiarity with modern refereeing protocols, positions him as a credible figure to lead reforms.
While the full scope of Taylor's responsibilities in his new post has not been detailed, the appointment marks a notable shift in his career path from active official to administrator, and represents one of the most prominent examples of a recently retired top referee taking on a senior governance role within another country's football association.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.