Anthony Taylor Begins New Era As Turkish FA Refereeing Director

Former Premier League referee Anthony Taylor has embarked on a new phase of his football career after being appointed Director of Elite Refereeing by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF).

According to Ireporter Online, the 47-year-old accepted the position shortly after retiring from active officiating, expressing enthusiasm about contributing to the growth and development of elite match officials in Turkey.

Taylor said he was delighted to join the Turkish Football Federation and looked forward to working with the organisation as it seeks to strengthen its refereeing standards and technical development programmes.

His appointment comes at a crucial period for Turkish football following a major refereeing betting scandal that prompted widespread calls for reform. A five-year investigation reportedly revealed that hundreds of match officials maintained betting accounts, leading the federation to intensify efforts to restore credibility and improve governance within its refereeing structure.

The TFF has maintained that overhauling its officiating system remains a key priority as it aims to align its refereeing programme with international standards set by UEFA and FIFA.

Taylor’s appointment was confirmed through Trinity Chambers, with barrister Fraser Williamson representing him during the process. The legal firm stated that the former English referee will oversee the strategic and technical development of elite refereeing in Turkey while helping to enhance the quality and professionalism of match officials across the country.

Williamson praised Taylor’s achievements throughout his officiating career, expressing confidence that his experience and leadership would play a significant role in advancing refereeing standards in Turkish football.

Taylor concluded his distinguished refereeing career last month after officiating Spain’s 1-0 victory over Portugal in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16. During a career spanning two decades, he took charge of 668 professional domestic matches, joined the Premier League referee list in 2010, and officiated at major international tournaments, including UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups.

Explaining his decision to retire, Taylor said the demands of elite officiating had been both rewarding and challenging, noting that the constant pressure and scrutiny made it the right time to move into the next chapter of his career.