**Peter Bankes refereed Newcastle United's win over Fulham on Saturday, which was the 43-year-old Howard Wolowitz impersonator's fourth time overseeing a Newcastle fixture already this season.**
It wouldn't be so bad if he were a competent official, but Bankes has made so many errors in the three games he's refereed (he was on VAR for one game) that it's becoming an issue.
Bankes failed to award Newcastle a penalty in the game against Nottingham Forest when Dan Burn was hauled to the floor by Morato, and on Saturday, Bankes was booed off the pitch for a series of poor decisions.
Nick Woltemade was manhandled all game and got nothing for it. Bruno Guimaraes was found near the halfway line and sent flying across the pitch, only for Bankes to ignore it completely.
Keith Hackett takes aim at Howard Webb for referee scheduling
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Former PGMOL chief [Keith Hackett has told Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/pgmol-expert-blasts-howard-webb-for-big-issue-after-controversial-newcastle-appointment/) that Howard Webb needs to look into how officials are selected, as while Newcastle have had Bankes four times, Arsenal have also had Jarred Gillett four times this season.
Bankes was meant to be on VAR on Saturday, but after Tony Harrington's Europa League game was moved to Friday, he could no longer officiate on Saturday, and Bankes had to step in, which was another bone of contention for Hackett.
> “I have a big issue because I think with the appointment of match officials to games…every effort should be made, which I would do with a spreadsheet, to spread them out.“Peter Bankes is not alone. Six weeks into the season, Jarred Gillett had Arsenal four times. Whoever is doing the appointing, it is ultimately Howard Webb’s responsibility.
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> “I understand there is a risk of exposure but the reality is that, when referees travel to Europe, that should be taken into account. Someone officiating in Europe on Thursday should not be appointed for a game on Saturday.”
Having the same referee is going to happen time and again over a season
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We don't necessarily have a problem with being handed the same referee time and time again; it's when they're so incompetent and seem to constantly overlook fouls against one team, namely ours, that it's an issue.
Peter Bankes has been woeful every time he's officiated at St James' Park, and we're not saying he has a vendetta against us or anything; we're simply saying he's an awful referee.
We doubt anything will come of this; we'll probably not even get an acknowledgement of the issue from Howard Webb. But we can't imagine Peter Bankes is going to get a warm reception next time he's at St James' Park.