Anthony Taylor has been appointed referee for Chelsea's opening Premier League game against Manchester City on Sunday.
Controversial Premier League referee Anthony Taylor will officiate Sunday's blockbuster Premier League game between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.
The experienced referee has been embroiled in controversy over the past 12 months, especially last season when he was criticised for making numerous high-profile mistakes in Premier League games.
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Anthony Taylor appointed referee for Chelsea vs Man City
Taylor faced controversy last November during the Wolves vs Newcastle United match, leading to a one-week demotion from Premier League duty.
He awarded Newcastle a penalty after Hwang Hee-chan was deemed to have fouled Fabian Schar, despite replays showing Hwang pulling out of the tackle. The VAR did not overturn the decision, and Callum Wilson scored the resulting spot-kick, ending the match 2-2.
Taylor has also made other high-profile mistakes, including awarding a penalty against Marc Cucurella for allegedly fouling Erling Haaland.
However, replays revealed both players had grasped each other's shirts, making the decision questionable.
Chelsea fans will be hoping Taylor's involvement does nothing to affect their chances of winning, especially against an opponent they have failed to defeat since 2021.
Meanwhile, Chelsea remain locked in talks with Atletico Madrid to bring in forward Joao Felix after a move for Samu Omorodion collapsed over the weekend.