Arsenal's Carabao Cup final referee isn't allowed to officiate Liverpool games

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The full refereeing team has been chosen for Sunday's Arsenal vs Manchester City Carabao Cup final at Wembley

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.