
<p>Anthony Taylor is making a quick return to the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a> after demotion just last week. The English referee was previously dropped from the English top flight due to a widely criticized call during a matchup between <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/newcastle-united-tv-schedule/">Newcastle</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/wolves-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Wolves</a>.</p>



<p>Taylor awarded the Magpies a controversial penalty just before the halftime break. The official decided that Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan fouled Fabian Schar inside the box. Nevertheless, replays showed that contact between the two players was minimal.</p>



<p>PGMOL, the governing body for referees, came out after the match to say that the decision was incorrect. The organization also stated that VAR should have overruled the original call by Taylor. The game eventually ended in a 2-2 draw.</p>



<p>Afterward, Wolves manager Gary O’Neil lambasted the blown decision, as well as VAR’s inability to correct the call. “I thought it was a terrible on-field decision and I thought it was unbelievably surprising that it wasn’t overturned,” <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67346339" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proclaimed</a> O’Neil. </p>



<p>“I feel like I waste my time speaking [to the officials] so I will stop speaking to them. Until they improve the level of what they produce, I have no time for them.”</p>



<h2>Ref committed another controversial call during demotion</h2>



<p>The controversy surrounding Taylor’s decisions did not, however, stop following the Newcastle and Wolves fixture. PGMOL demoted Taylor to the second-tiered <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/championship-tv-schedule/">Championship</a> on Saturday. The referee called a matchup between <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/preston-tv-schedule-follow-the-lilywhites/">Preston North End</a> and Coventry City.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231107_WST_467832_Taylor-referee-1200x675.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-467881" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Taylor-referee-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Taylor-referee-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Taylor-referee-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Taylor-referee.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Taylor, as well as other referees in the Premier League, have been the focus of controversy this season.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Much like the aforementioned match, Taylor awarded Preston a penalty kick just before halftime. The referee declared that Coventry captain Kyle McFadzean fouled Preston’s Milutin Osmajic inside the box. Replays, however, showed that there was not much contact with Osmajic. VAR is not currently in place in the Championship.</p>



<p>Alan Browne stepped up and converted the spot kick to give Preston the lead entering the second half. Preston would go on to win the match 3-2. The victory took the Lilywhites up to sixth in the stands. Nevertheless, Coventry’s defeat puts the Sky Blues dangerously close to the relegation zone.</p>



<h2>Anthony Taylor set to officiate Chelsea’s upcoming match with City</h2>



<p>Despite Taylor’s controversy, he is back in the Premier League. Not only has the English top flight allowed the referee to make a quick comeback despite another debatable decision, but he has been given a massive matchup.</p>



<p>Taylor will be in charge of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-city-tv-schedule/">Manchester City’s</a> visit to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a> on Sunday, Nov. 12. The matchup is undoubtedly the top fixture of the weekend. It is difficult to comprehend Taylor’s return after demotion and <em>then</em> a mistake in the Championship. </p>



<p>Awarding this referee the marquee matchup of the week also sends a terrible message to the players, coaches, and fans. It tells those involved with the Premier League, widely considered to be the top division in the world, that officials can continue to make mistakes without real penalties.</p>



<p>Taylor’s recent mishap is far from the lone controversial call in the Premier League this season. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/liverpool-tv-schedule/">Liverpool</a> suffered a defeat to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/tottenham-tv-schedule/">Spurs</a> after referees <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/klopp-calls-for-liverpool-vs-tottenham-replay-after-var-blunder-20231004-WST-460222.html">wrongly disallowed</a> a Luis Diaz goal. Then, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/arsenal-tv-schedule/">Arsenal</a> was seething when VAR <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/newcastle-tops-arsenal-as-var-once-again-center-of-debate-20231104-WST-467354.html">failed to spot a foul</a> on defender Gabriel during Newcastle’s lone goal of the game at the weekend.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>


Anthony Taylor handed huge EPL clash days after demotion

Anthony Taylor has been appointed referee for the marquee Premier League matchup of the weekend despite recent controversial calls.


<p>Jose Mourinho was, quite predictably, not happy following his team’s loss in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/europa-league-tv-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Europa League</a> final on Wednesday. Roma fell to Sevilla on penalty kicks after a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/sevilla-tops-roma-in-dramatic-fashion-to-win-europa-league-title-20230531-WST-435503.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tense and long match</a> in Budapest. Following the disappointing defeat, the Portuguese coach ranted about the officiating and even confronted referee Anthony Taylor in a parking garage.</p>



<p>“This is a European final, and with this kind of refereeing, it is hard to accept,” <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37771996/jose-mourinho-confronts-referee-anthony-taylor-car-park-europa-league-final-defeat" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proclaimed</a> Mourinho in his postgame press conference. “If we talk about refereeing situations, it’s not two or three, it is many. Those of us who have been in football a long time realize immediately what is going on.”</p>



<h5>Taylor breaks record for most bookings in Europa final</h5>



<p>Taylor gave out 14 total yellow cards throughout the massive match. This was a record for a Europa League final. Mourinho was, of course, one of those involved to receive a booking.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jose Mourinho waited outside to call Anthony Taylor a &apos;f*cking crook&apos; 😳 <a href="https://t.co/0BrQfTZL9x">pic.twitter.com/0BrQfTZL9x</a></p>— GOAL (@goal) <a href="https://twitter.com/goal/status/1664228449438007297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>The Roma manager then broke down exact situations where he felt officials involved in the game were wrong. “[Lorenzo] Pellegrini&nbsp;falls in box and given a yellow card;&nbsp;[Lucas] Ocampos&nbsp;did exactly the same thing and he doesn’t get one. It’s a scandal,” continued Mourinho. “VAR called the referee and shames Ocampos, but there’s no card given.”</p>



<p>“[Erik] Lamela&nbsp;— who, by the way, scored one of the penalties — deserved a second yellow but didn’t get it. And let’s not even talk about the big decisions. That’s just the small details.”</p>



<h2>Jose Mourinho takes it out on referee after Europa League Final</h2>



<p>Along with ranting about officiating mistakes, Mourinho even confronted Taylor in the stadium’s parking garage. The 60-year-old coach yelled profanities and called the English referee a disgrace. According to the <em><a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65776488" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BBC</a></em>, UEFA’s chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti&nbsp;was present at the time and attempted to defuse the situation.</p>



<p>Nevertheless, the governing body of the sport in Europe is reviewing reports from Taylor and fourth official Michael Oliver. UEFA will then make a decision on whether or not to take further action toward Mourinho. The coach could face a multiple-match suspension for his actions during and after the game.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Sportimage</em></p>


Roma manager Jose Mourinho confronted referee Anthony Taylor in a parking garage following his team's defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League.

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Anthony Taylor handed huge EPL clash days after demotion

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Mourinho confronts referee in garage after Europa League loss