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Anthony Taylor (Referee) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 28, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth20 October 1978

Age44 Years (as of 2022)

BirthplaceWythenshawe, Cheshire, Manchester, England

ProfessionFootball referee; former prison officer; former front office supervisor

NationalityBritish

Marital statusMarried

SpouseAnne Marie

FamilyTwo daughters; sister Kate (doctor)

Anthony Taylor (Referee) Biography

Anthony Taylor is an experienced English football referee from Wythenshawe, Manchester. A FIFA-listed official since 2013, he has refereed major domestic‑c

Early life and background

Anthony Taylor was born on 20 October 1978 in Wythenshawe, Cheshire, Manchester. He grew up in the area and attended Altrincham Grammar School for Boys before pursuing further study at Staffordshire University and Manchester Metropolitan University. Taylor completed postgraduate programmes in sports coaching and sports directorships in the 2010s. He is British, identifies as Christian, and is described as having blue eyes and a bald appearance.

Career

Taylor began refereeing as a teenager after playing football in local Wythenshawe leagues. He progressed through the non-league ranks, moving to the Northern Premier League by 2001 and then into Conference North in 2004. By 2005 he was on the National List of assistant referees and the following year earned promotion to the National List of Referees, making his League Two debut in August 2006 in a match between Wrexham and Peterborough United.

He took charge of several notable cup finals in the English game, including the 2010 FA Vase final and the 2012 FA Trophy final. Taylor made his Premier League refereeing debut on 3 February 2010 in a match between Fulham and Portsmouth and was appointed to the Select Group of referees for the 2010–11 Premier League season. He went on to officiate in high‑profile domestic fixtures such as the 2015 League Cup final, the 2015 FA Community Shield, the 2017 FA Cup final, the 2018 EFL Championship play-off deciders, and the 2020 FA Cup.

On the international stage Taylor was added to the FIFA list on 1 January 2013. He has refereed at a range of UEFA and FIFA events, including the 2015 UEFA European Under‑19 Championship, the 2020 European Championship qualification play‑offs, the 2021 UEFA Nations League and the 2023 UEFA Europa League Final. Taylor was also selected to officiate at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Taylor is known as a referee who applies firm discipline; early in the 2011–12 season he issued multiple dismissals across matches and continued to show strictness throughout that campaign. He cites several well‑known referees as influences and has acknowledged a mentorship with Chris Foy.

Earlier work

Before committing to refereeing full time, Taylor worked outside football. Between February 1998 and December 2000 he was a front‑office supervisor at Hilton Hotels and Resorts. From January 2001 until July 2013 he served as a prison officer with HM Prison and Probation Service before leaving that post to focus more fully on his match‑refereeing career.

Public profile

Taylor has been involved in a number of widely reported incidents that raised his public profile. He was praised for his immediate action when Danish player Christian Eriksen collapsed during the UEFA Euro 2020 match between Denmark and Finland; Taylor called for medical assistance and helped ensure the player received prompt care. In domestic football he has had contentious exchanges with managers and supporters over decisions in matches, including high‑profile friction surrounding Arsenal fixtures and the 2017 FA Cup final appointment.

At the 2023 UEFA Europa League final in Budapest, Taylor issued a notably high number of yellow cards during the match. Following that game, he and his family were subjected to aggressive behaviour by some supporters at Budapest airport; the episode drew broad media attention and police involvement for an individual who threw a chair.

Personal life

Taylor is married to Anne Marie, who works as a prison officer. The couple have two daughters. He has a sister, Kate, who is a doctor. Taylor is a long‑time supporter of Altrincham FC and remains an advocate for non‑league football; he buys a full season ticket each year when his officiating commitments allow. He keeps a dog and is known to be fond of animals.

Latest updates

In recent years Taylor prepared for the 2022 World Cup with a tailored fitness programme to adapt to tournament conditions. He continued to operate on the international circuit through 2023, including refereeing the UEFA Europa League Final and managing the aftermath of the encounters that followed that fixture.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Anthony Taylor (Referee), send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

2023 UEFA Europa League Final

Referee in the final between AS Roma and Sevilla FC, a match noted for a high number of yellow cards.

2023
2022 FIFA World Cup

Selected as a match official for the tournament in Qatar.

2022
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Career Highlights

  1. Made Premier League debut on 3 February 2010
  2. Promoted to FIFA list on 1 January 2013
  3. Officiated major domestic finals including the 2015 League Cup, 2017 FA Cup final and 2020 FA Cup
  4. Refereed at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 UEFA Europa League Final
  5. Praised for prompt medical response during Christian Eriksen's collapse at UEFA Euro 2020
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Anthony Taylor (Referee) born?

Anthony Taylor (Referee) was born on 20 October 1978.

What is Anthony Taylor (Referee) known for?

Anthony Taylor (Referee) is known for football referee; former prison officer; former front office supervisor.

What is Anthony Taylor (Referee)’s marital status?

Anthony Taylor (Referee)'s marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Anthony Taylor (Referee) married to?

Anthony Taylor (Referee) is publicly listed as married to Anne Marie.