The man in the middle for the Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley is kept away from Liverpool matches
The referee for the Carabao Cup final has been confirmed(Image: Richard Sellers/Allstar, Getty Images)
Premier League official Peter Bankes will take control of the Carabao Cup final on Sunday as Arsenal meet Manchester City. The official would not have been permitted to oversee the match had Liverpool been participating, though, while he is also unable to officiate Everton games.
This is due to Bankes’ county FA being the Liverpool Football Association. He has never taken charge of a match involving either Liverpool or Everton, be that in the Premier League or in any other major competition.
Bankes will be assisted for the final at Wembley by Neil Davies and Steve Meredith, with Marc Perry designated as a reserve assistant referee. Tom Bramall, who has overseen Arsenal and Manchester City fixtures in the league this season, is the fourth official.
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VAR will be in operation for the final at Wembley on Sunday. John Brooks has been appointed as the video assistant referee, with Dan Robathan as his assistant.
Premier League referees are obliged to declare which sides they support, enabling the league to guarantee they don’t oversee that side or any fixtures, which can directly impact that side. Sides from their local area or assigned FA are also ruled out, irrespective of whether they support that side.
The latter category clarifies why Bankes is unable to officiate matches involving either Merseyside club. His local FA publicly congratulated him when he was promoted to the Premier League’s ‘A’ List of elite officials for the 2019/20 campaign.
Peter Bankes was in charge when Arsenal beat Manchester City in the league last season(Image: Alex Pantling, Getty Images)
Bankes has overseen 14 Arsenal fixtures throughout his career, including the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea. The Gunners have secured victory in 10 of those encounters, with one draw and three losses.
Manchester City have recorded six victories, one draw and five defeats with Bankes as referee. One of those losses was their 5-1 thrashing by Arsenal last season.
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The official hasn’t issued a single red card or penalty in those 14 Arsenal fixtures. There was just one dismissal in his 12 City matches, with John Stones sent off when Pep Guardiola’s side defeated Aston Villa back in 2021.
Liverpool and Everton both saw their Carabao Cup runs finish long before the final this season. Arne Slot saw a weakened side eliminated by Crystal Palace in the fourth round, while Everton were knocked out one round earlier after a 2-0 reverse away to Wolves.
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