Fans claim it’s the ‘same old story with English referees’ with Anthony Taylor’s decision ‘hard to explain’ in Germany’s Euro 2024 quarter-final against Spain

Fans have questioned referee Anthony Taylor’s decisions during a tense Euro 2024 quarter-final between hosts Germany and Spain.

The Premier League official was handed the high-profile tie by UEFA, supported by assistants Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn, along with VAR Stuart Attwell.

Taylor’s performance came into the spotlight early in the match after opting against booking Toni Kroos for a foul on Pedri in the fifth minute.

The German midfielder caught Pedri with a high tackle, with the Spaniard falling painfully to the turf.

Pedri was ultimately forced off having reportedly suffered a knee injury, which could rule him out of the remainder of the tournament.

The German midfielder avoided a yellow card from English referee Anthony Taylor

Taylor later harshly showed a yellow card to Spanish defender Robin Le Normand

Speaking on the BBC, former Chelsea and Scotland winger Pat Nevin expressed surprise at Taylor’s decision not to book Kroos for the challenge. 

‘Toni Kroos completely mistimed it and wiped Pedri out – that is the clearest yellow card you will see,’ Nevin said. 

‘It is a difficult one and every referee will deny it, but you cannot come out as a referee and a have a game-plan.

‘Sometimes you have to make a decision early and I don’t think Anthony Taylor’s got that right.’

Nevin also claimed Taylor had made an ‘awful decision’ later in the half by booking Spanish defender Robin Le Normand, suggesting Germany’s Ilkay Gundogan had ‘thrown himself to the ground’.

The yellow card also meant Le Normand would be suspended for a potential semi-final if Spain advance.

Taylor’s two key decisions during the first half had attracted criticism on social media. 

‘Anthony Taylor at it once again, same old story with English referees,’ one fan wrote. ‘They shouldn’t even be allowed at these tournaments, keep them in the Premier league and stay away.’

The English official was busy in the first half during an intense Euro 2024 quarter-final clash

Taylor’s decisions not to book Kroos but caution Le Normand were questioned on social media

‘Anthony Taylor simple has to set the tone early there, that’s a terrible challenge on Pedri. That’s a yellow card, simple as that,’ another wrote.

Journalist Tancredi Palmeri added ‘Mah, totally random the yellow to Le Normand, Taylor has completely lose the plot, Germany being lucky with the ref.’

Taylor had shown a further two yellow cards in the first half to Germany’s David Raum and Antonio Rudiger.

The yellow card to Rudiger would mean the defender would also be suspended should Germany reach the last four.

Spain ultimately took the lead when Dani Olmo, Pedri’s replacement, struck six minutes into the second half against the hosts.