
Anthony Taylor is set to officiate Sunday’s box office showdown between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, the Daily Mail reports.
This decision comes in the wake of Taylor’s disgraceful penalty call in a recent Championship fixture between Preston North End and Coventry City.
The 45-year-old referee was demoted to the English second tier after awarding a controversial penalty to Newcastle United in their 2-2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers last month at Molineux Stadium.
The Premier League’s Independent Key Match Incidents Panel reviewed this decision and concluded it was incorrect.
As a consequence of this error, Taylor was assigned to referee the match between Preston and Coventry as a form of punishment.
However, controversy found its way back into his jurisdiction as he awarded a soft penalty to Preston, ultimately leading them to a 3-2 victory at Deepdale.
Despite these recent controversies, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have expressed satisfaction with Taylor’s overall performance.
Subsequently, they have reinstated him to oversee the Chelsea vs. Man City fixture at Stamford Bridge, with Jarred Gillett confirmed as the video assistant referee (VAR) for the fixture.
Taylor has developed a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most experienced referees, having officiated prominent matches, including the Europa League final, Championship play-off final, and two FA Cup finals.
However, his recent fall from grace was deserving of a relegation to the Championship, and his recent blunder is further proof of his inability to perform at the highest level.
The decision to have Taylor officiate a high-profile match like Chelsea vs. Man City, considering his recent controversial calls, has sparked debate about refereeing standards in the Premier League.
The English top flight is already grappling with the impact of VAR decisions, and Taylor’s return does little to inspire confidence in PGMOL’s ability to change the narrative.
