Referee Anthony Taylor made history during a Premier League match between Bournemouth and Chelsea, issuing a record-breaking 14 yellow cards. The heated encounter, held at Vitality Stadium, saw Chelsea edge out a narrow 1-0 win, but the game was marked more by Taylor’s frequent card displays than by any aggressive play.
Chelsea players were shown a total of eight yellow cards, while Bournemouth’s side received six. This set a new Premier League record for the most yellow cards in a single match. The previous record, which stood at 13 yellow cards, was first set in 2010 and had been equaled several times, most recently in a clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United in September 2023.
The game itself was a tense affair with few goals. Chelsea’s win came late in the match, thanks to a goal from substitute Christopher Nkunku, securing all three points for the Blues. Despite the lack of aggressive tackles or intense confrontations, Taylor’s strict approach to refereeing left many fans and players baffled by the number of bookings.
Chelsea’s tally of yellow cards for the season now stands at 16, the highest in the league, followed closely by Bournemouth and Manchester United with 12 each, and Ipswich Town with 11.
Fans took to social media to voice their displeasure with Taylor’s officiating. Several Chelsea supporters expressed frustration over the perceived harshness of the referee’s decisions. One fan stated, “Anthony Taylor can never be forgiven for his crimes against Chelsea football club.” Another sarcastically commented, “Historic number of yellows for a game that genuinely has had very little bite to it. Anthony Taylor legit just wanted to set a record.”
There were also lighthearted reactions to the referee’s performance, with one fan joking, “I just heard Anthony Taylor booked the tea lady after the game for asking how many sugars he wanted. Taylor doesn’t eat sugar after 9 pm.”
