Referee Anthony Taylor, who oversaw Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Bournemouth, issued a record-breaking 14 yellow cards, the most ever in a Premier League match.
He also booked Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca and Bournemouth coach Pablo de la Torre, prompting mixed reactions from Maresca and Bournemouth’s head coach, Andoni Iraola.
After the match, Taylor faced intense online abuse, including threats directed at his family. In response to these incidents, the Premier League has reportedly opened an investigation. As a result, Taylor’s assignments for the upcoming weekend have been altered, and he will now serve as the fourth official in two matches: Southampton vs. Ipswich Town on Saturday and Brighton vs. Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
This isn’t the first time Taylor has faced fan abuse. In 2023, he was accosted by Roma supporters at Budapest Airport following the Europa League final. While the recent harassment has been online, it is being treated just as seriously by league authorities.
Taylor’s 14 yellow cards were part of a weekend that saw a record number of cards across the Premier League, with a total of 65 yellow cards and one red card shown over 10 games. Southampton defender Jack Stephens was the only player sent off.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca reflected on his yellow card and the game’s physical nature: “I complained about a foul on Wesley Fofana, which for me was quite clear, but these things happen. Eight yellow cards [for Chelsea] probably reflect the nature of the game—full of duels and fights. I have no issue with it.” In contrast, Iraola refrained from commenting on the officiating.
Following the 2023 Roma incident, Taylor discussed the growing problem of referee abuse on the High Performance Podcast, calling for “more understanding and empathy” towards match officials.
Reported By Meshack Awino.
