The full refereeing team has been chosen for Sunday's Arsenal vs Manchester City Carabao Cup final at Wembley
10:14, 22 Mar 2026
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 02: Referee Peter Bankes speaks with Leandro Trossard of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester City FC at Emirates Stadium on February 02, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Peter Bankes will referee Arsenal and Manchester City 13 months on from a memorable Gunners game(Image: Marc Atkins, Getty Images)
Peter Bankes will oversee Sunday's Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City. However, the long-serving official would have been prohibited from refereeing the fixture had Liverpool been participating.
The Merseyside club is one of two sides Bankes is prevented from officiating by the league, owing to his county FA being the Liverpool Football Association. The 43 year old is barred from overseeing matches featuring Liverpool's Merseyside neighbours Everton for the same reason.
Neil Davies and Steve Meredith have been named as Bankes' assistants for the Wembley final, with Marc Perry designated as a reserve assistant referee. Tom Bramall, who has officiated Arsenal and Manchester City fixtures separately in the league this campaign, serves as the fourth official.
VAR will be operational for Sunday's final at Wembley. John Brooks has been appointed as the video assistant referee, with Dan Robathan as his assistant.
*FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE!Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page*
Premier League officials must declare which clubs they support, enabling the league to prevent them from refereeing that side or any fixtures which could directly impact that club. Teams from their local region or designated FA are likewise excluded, irrespective of whether they follow that side.
The latter category clarifies why Bankes is unable to officiate matches involving either Merseyside club. He received direct congratulations from his local FA upon being added to the Premier League's 'A' List of elite officials for the 2019/20 campaign and took charge of 11 matches in that first season including a 4-0 Arsenal win against Norwich City.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MARCH 04: Jacob Ramsey of Newcastle United is shown a red card by referee Peter Bankes during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James' Park on March 04, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Bankes has shown four red cards in Premier League matches this season(Image: Alex Livesey - Danehouse, Getty Images)
Bankes has overseen 14 Arsenal fixtures throughout his career, including the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea. The Gunners have secured 10 victories in those matches, with one draw and three defeats - including the loss at Aston Villa in December 2025.
Manchester City have recorded six wins, one draw and five losses with Bankes officiating. One of those defeats was their 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Arsenal last season.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
The referee hasn't issued a single red card or penalty across those 14 Arsenal fixtures. There was only one dismissal in his 12 City matches, with John Stones' red card not stopping Pep Guardiola's side from beating Aston Villa in April 2021.
Article continues below
Bankes has officiated 22 Premier League matches in the 2025/26 season, awarding six penalties and producing four red cards. He awarded a penalty and a red card in separate incidents in the same match earlier this month when 10-man Newcastle beat Manchester United.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Content Image
£49
£35
Sky
Get Sky Sports here
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.