Anthony Taylor has been appointed director of elite refereeing for the Turkish Football Federation. The 47-year-old said he was "delighted" to take up the role, stating, "I am delighted to be joining the Turkish Football Federation and look forward to the opportunity ahead." He expressed enthusiasm about working with the federation to develop elite referees and improve standards after two decades on the pitch.

The appointment comes 10 months after a five-year investigation found that 371 of 571 match officials in Turkey had betting accounts. At the time, TFF president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu said, "If we want to bring Turkish football to the place it deserves, we have to clean up whatever dirt there is." The investigation revealed widespread betting involvement among officials, prompting a vow for reform and emphasizing the need to eradicate corruption to elevate Turkish football.

Taylor last month announced his retirement from a 20-year refereeing career after overseeing Spain's 1-0 win over Portugal in the World Cup last 16 on 6 July. His final match in charge was the high-stakes Spain versus Portugal clash, where he managed the game without controversy. Throughout his career he officiated in major tournaments and domestic leagues, accumulating extensive experience, including 668 professional domestic matches, Euro 2020, and the 2022 and 2026 World Cups.