Premier League ref Taylor ‘barred’ from officiating World Cup final

Premier League referee Anthony Taylor has reportedly been barred from officiating in the World Cup final due to concerns over national bias. France take on Argentina in a mouthwatering clash at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday, but English official Taylor will not be used as part of FIFA’s refereeing team due to concerns over the history between the two nations.

The 44-year-old has been dealt a disappointing blow by the world football governing body after it emerged that FIFA have appointed Polish referee Szymon Marciniak instead. And the decision to snub Taylor appears to have more of a deliberate background than some may have initially thought.

According to The Times, there were fears that English officials have been barred from officiating games featuring Argentina due to concerns over the two nations’ tense history over the Falkland Islands.

FIFA reportedly see the concept of remaining neutral among officials as a ‘top priority’, and it is understood that the same rule would have been applied to Argentinian referees had they been in contention to referee England matches.

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Taylor, who hails from the Manchester-based town of Wythenshawe, oversaw two World Cup group stage matches. He was the man in the middle for Ghana’s 3-2 win over South Korea, which ended in controversy after the English referee sent off South Korea coach Paulo Bento at the final whistle.

He was also in charge for the goalless draw between Croatia and Belgium, which contributed to the latter’s early exit from the competition. Taylor dished out five yellow cards and no reds in his two games in Qatar.

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