Anthony
Taylor has been named referee for the FA Cup final between Arsenal and
Chelsea at Wembley on May 27.
The Cheshire-based official will take charge of the showpiece occasion for
the first time and will be joined by assistant referees Gary Beswick and
Marc Perry, with Bobby Madley named fourth official.
Taylor had a run-in with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger earlier this year, while
he was acting as fourth official at the Emirates for Arsenal's win over
Burnley on January 22.
Wenger received a £25,000 fine and four-match touchline ban for pushing
Taylor that day and for the language he used towards the official.
Referee Jon Moss sent Wenger from the touchline after Burnley equalised with
a penalty and the Frenchman initially stood in the mouth of the tunnel.
It was after being asked to leave that area that he pushed Taylor twice, the
FA's written reasons for the punishment state.
Wenger accepted both FA charges of misconduct and said after the match: "I
regret everything.
"I should have shut up, gone in and gone home. I apologise for that."
Regarding his cup final appointment, the 38-year-old Taylor told thefa.com:
"It's been a long-standing dream of mine in the 20-odd years that I've been
a referee to one day officiate the FA Cup final.
"It's the pinnacle of your domestic career.
"Refereeing a match at Wembley is a fantastic experience, any game that you
do there, but the cup final is iconic and, especially with it being a London
derby as well, that adds an extra dimension to the occasion."
The FA on Tuesday announced the clubs will receive a ticket allocation of
approximately 28,000 each for the final.
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