Peter Bankes, the referee appointed for Sunday's Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City, is barred from officiating matches involving Liverpool or Everton due to his affiliation with the Liverpool Football Association. The 43-year-old Premier League official's county FA designation prevents him from taking charge of either Merseyside club, a policy enforced by the league to avoid conflicts of interest.
Bankes will be supported at Wembley by assistants Neil Davies and Steve Meredith, with Marc Perry as reserve assistant referee. Tom Bramall, who has refereed both Arsenal and Manchester City in the league this season, serves as fourth official. VAR will be in operation, overseen by John Brooks with Dan Robathan as assistant.
Premier League referees are required to disclose their supported teams, ensuring they do not officiate matches involving that club or any that could directly affect them. Teams from a referee's local area or assigned FA are also off-limits, regardless of personal allegiance. Bankes was congratulated by his local FA when he was added to the Premier League's 'A' List of top officials for the 2019/20 season.
Bankes has officiated 14 Arsenal matches in his career, with the Gunners winning 10, drawing one, and losing three. He was in charge of Arsenal's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea. Manchester City have six wins, one draw, and five defeats under Bankes, including a 5-1 loss to Arsenal last season. He has not awarded a red card or penalty in any Arsenal match, and only one sending-off in 12 City games—John Stones in a 2021 win over Aston Villa.
In the 2025/26 Premier League season, Bankes has refereed 22 matches, awarding six penalties and issuing four red cards. Two of those reds came in the same match in September, when Chelsea's Robert Sanchez and Manchester United's Robert Sanchez were dismissed at Old Trafford.
