Anthony Taylor has been appointed to referee Manchester City’s potential Premier League title showdown with Arsenal on Sunday, despite being from Greater Manchester
Anthony Taylor will referee Man City vs Arsenal on Sunday(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Anthony Taylor’s appointment to take charge of Manchester City vs Arsenal on Sunday should not be seen as controversial, according to ex-Premier League referee Graham Scott. Taylor has been confirmed as the referee for the all-important title showdown at the Etihad Stadium.
The Gunners face City at 4.30pm on Sunday after an eye-catching weekend saw the gap at the top cut to six points. Arsenal lost 2-1 to Bournemouth before City thrashed Chelsea 3-0 to set up the biggest match of the season.
Taylor is one of the Premier League’s top officials and his appointment for the match was confirmed by the PGMOL on Monday. The 47-year-old is from the Greater Manchester area and his appointment for City or Manchester United games have previously caused controversy.
However, Scott says Taylor has no bias because he is a supporter of non-league side Altrincham. “Eyebrows are sometimes raised when he is appointed to a match involving either of the Manchester giants, given he lives within a few miles of both grounds,” Scott told The Athletic.
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“But his support for his home-town club Altrincham is genuine, not convenient, and he has no allegiance to either City or United.” Referees have to tell the PGMOL who they support and they are then unable to work on games involving their side, or their rivals.
“Anthony has always been an Altrincham fan,” Altricham president Grahame Rowley previously told The Athletic. “Even now, he gets a season ticket every year, despite the fact he can’t go to all the matches.
“People around here always ask if you’re a Red or a Blue. He’s actually a great advocate for non-League football and should be praised, not criticised.”
Anthony Taylor has regularly overseen Manchester City and Manchester United games(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Taylor has already taken charge of matches involving both City and United this season. He is hugely experienced, having overseen 426 matches during his career and is one of two Premier League referees to have been selected by FIFA to officiate at this summer World Cup, alongside Michael Oliver.
Scott, who retired from refereeing at the end of the 2024/25 season, added: “Anthony Taylor’s appointment to this weekend’s likely title decider comes as no surprise given the magnitude of the fixture, Taylor’s stature and his recent form. The assignment would have been pencilled in a few weeks ago so he could be kept away from both teams’ recent fixtures.
“The other contenders for the match of the season were Michael Oliver, who officiated Arsenal vs. Bournemouth on Saturday, and Chris Kavanagh, who was on duty for City’s game at Chelsea.
“Taylor produced an exemplary performance in the derby between Newcastle United and Sunderland last month, and won praise for allowing an advantage to Liverpool before their first goal against Fulham at the weekend.”
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