Anthony Taylor is an English football referee who has refereed many matches at international, national and club level. He has a refereeing career of more than 15 years. He became popular in June 2023 when he and his family were roughed up by Roma fans at Budapest Airport.
Wiki/Biography
Anthony Taylor, also spelled Anthony Taylor, was born on Friday, October 20, 1978 in Wythenshawe, Manchester, Cheshire, England (44 years old; as of 2022). His zodiac sign is Libra. He completed his studies at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys in Altrincham, Manchester in 1997. From 2016 to 2018, he studied an MSc in Sports Coaching at Staffordshire University, Staffordshire, UK. He then studied a Masters in Sports Direction at Manchester Metropolitan University. 2021-2023 to study at the University of Marchester, UK. He has held different jobs while serving as a match referee.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′10″
Weight (approximately): 75 kg
Hair Color: Bald
Eye Color: Blue
family
He was born into a middle-class family.
Parents and siblings
He has an older sister named Kate who is a doctor.
wife and children
His wife, Anne Marie, was also a prison officer. The couple have two daughters.
Anthony Taylor and his wife Anne Marie Taylor
religion
He follows Christianity.
Profession
other occupations
Before serving as a football referee, he worked as a Front Office Supervisor at Hilton Hotels & Resorts from February 1998 to December 2000. Between January 2001 and July 2013, he worked as a Prison Officer for the Royal Prisons and Probation Service. It was later removed from his job as a prison official to free up more time for match refereeing.
match referee
He played football since he was a child and was told about refereeing courses while playing football; however, when he was convinced that he would not be able to advance to the professional level, he decided to take refereeing courses and become a referee. His mother also played a role, influencing Taylor by asking him to put himself in the referee’s shoes whenever he expressed pain at a referee’s decision during a game. In 1995, at the age of 16, he began refereeing in the local Wythenshawe League. In 2001, he became a match referee for the Northern Super League and in 2004 for the Northern League.
Anthony Taylor refereed the game
In 2005, he was promoted to the national assistant referee, and was promoted to the national referee in the following season. His first game in the second division came in August 2006 between Wrexham and Peterborough United. He officiated the 2010 FA Vase Final and the 2012 FA Cup Final.
Photo of Anthony Taylor refereeing the game
His first game in the English Premier League (EPL) was on 3 February 2010 between Fulham and Portsmouth. He was subsequently promoted to the Premier League’s Selected Referee List for the 2010-2011 season. He subsequently officiated the finals of the 2015 League Cup, 2015 FA Community Shield, 2017 FA Cup, 2018 EFL Championship Play-offs and the 2020 FA Cup. On January 1, 2013, he became a FIFA designated referee.
Anthony Taylor to referee at international match
His decisions were disputed by many, with many referees, players and club managers supporting his on-pitch decisions. He officiated the 2022 FIFA World Cup and also officiated the 2015 European Under-19 Championship final, the Euro 2020 qualifying play-off, the 2021 UEFA Nations League and the 2023 Europa League final.
Anthony Taylor to referee at Qatar 2022 World Cup
Anthony Taylor officiates UEFA matches
Facts / Trivia
- He is an animal lover and has a pet dog.
Anthony Taylor playing with his dog
- In an interview, he mentioned that his favorite referees are Joe Worrall, George Courtney, Pierluigi Collina and Marcus Merck. His mentor is Chris Foy.
- In Middlesbrough’s first game against Leeds United in the 2011-12 Premier League season, he twice showed yellow cards to three players and sent them off. In 34 games that season, he sacked five more players.
- Anthony clashed with former Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger on several occasions due to his decisions during Arsenal’s Premier League games. In January 2017, Wenger was suspended for four games for having a heated conversation with Anthony. Arsenal fans were outraged when Anthony Taylor was chosen to referee the 2017 FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea, criticizing the decision on Twitter. Some fans also joked about congratulating Chelsea in advance after learning the news.
Anthony Taylor (right) has an altercation with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
- Anthony Taylor claims to be a fan of Altrincham FC. Although he rarely attends their games at the stadium due to his duties as a FIFA referee, he buys full-season tickets to their games every year.
Anthony Taylor fitted with defibrillator at Altrincham FC
- He is a supporter of non-league football.
- On June 12, 2021, Anthony Taylor became a hero when he acted quickly to save the life of Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen. This game is the Euro 2020 match between Denmark and Finland. Eriksson collapsed on the pitch during the game. Taylor sent a distress call within five seconds. Eriksson was treated in time and was in a stable condition while recovering in hospital. Fans, players and celebrities such as Prince William have called Taylor a hero.
Prince William tweets after Anthony Taylor saves Christian Eriksen’s life
- Ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he underwent a fitness program specially designed for him to adapt to the Qatari heat. The program involves running on a treadmill in an environmental chamber.
Anthony Taylor (on the treadmill) training ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
- On May 31, 2023, in the 2023 Europa League final between Roma and Sevilla in Budapest, Hungary, he received 14 yellow cards, the most in the Europa League. After the two sides tied at 1-1, Sevilla won 5-4 in the penalty shootout. Roma fans and head coach Jose Mourinho blamed Taylor for the team’s defeat and roughed up Taylor, his daughter and wife while they were at Budapest airport. Fans threw drinks at them, insulted them and one fan even threw a chair at them and was later arrested. Mourinho has also been very vocal, and he himself insulted Taylor in an airport car park. He was later seen walking with his wife and dog near their home.
Anthony Taylor referees Sevilla FC’s final match against Roma as Roma coach Jose Mourinho taunts him with hand gestures
Anthony Taylor walks with wife Anne-Marie Taylor and his dog after roughhanded accident
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education