Antony Taylor has been appointed head of elite referees at the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) only a few days after announcing his retirement, according to The Sun.
The 47-year-old has officially brought an end to his 20-year refereeing career, having overseen 668 domestic fixtures and featured at three major international tournaments. He will now take up the role of Turkey’s Head of Elite Referees.
The Turkish Football Federation confirmed the appointment in a statement released on Tuesday, revealing that Taylor has signed a long-term agreement with the organisation.
The statement read: “In his new role, Antony will lead the strategic and technical development of the Federation’s elite refereeing.
“His responsibilities will include supporting the development of referees and helping to strengthen the broader refereeing system to meet UEFA and FIFA standards.
“This appointment marks a new phase in his career at the highest level of domestic and international football.
“During his refereeing career, Antony officiated in the Premier League, Champions League, European Championship and World Cup.”
Taylor’s switch to Turkish football comes amid ongoing concerns over officiating standards in the country. The move is likely to attract attention, given the refereeing controversies that have affected Turkish football in recent years.
Last season, Turkish football authorities opened a disciplinary probe into officiating after an investigation reportedly uncovered that 152 referees were actively involved in gambling.