How Antony Taylor can referee Man City vs Arsenal despite Manchester roots as rule explained

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Anthony Taylor will take charge of Sunday's Premier League clash between Manchester City and Arsenal

Anthony Taylor is the man in the middle for Sunday's blockbuster clash(Image: Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Why Anthony Taylor is permitted to referee Manchester City vs Arsenal

1. PGMOL rules: The primary rule for Professional Game Match Officials Limited is that a referee cannot officiate a match involving a team they support, or that team's rivals. Before each season, every referee must declare their allegiances and personal interests.
2. Taylor's allegiance: Anthony Taylor is a lifelong supporter of Altrincham FC, a non-league club currently competing in the National League. Because he does not support either Manchester City or Manchester United, he is deemed 'neutral' under PGMOL guidelines.
3. Colleague's support: One of Taylor's former colleagues, Graham Scott, spoke about him earlier this week. He told The Athletic: "Eyebrows are sometimes raised when he is appointed to a match involving either of the Manchester giants, given he lives within a few miles of both grounds. But his support for his home-town club Altrincham is genuine, not convenient, and he has no allegiance to either City or United."
4. Allegiance vs location: While Taylor does hail from the Greater Manchester area, PGMOL does not strictly prohibit referees from officiating matches involving local teams, provided there is no conflict of interest. This would include supporting the club in question or having a family connection to it.
5. The travel factor: Previously, there was a mild preference for referees not to reside in the same city as the teams they oversee to prevent local influence. However, with the emergence of professional standards and elite refereeing pools, 'neutrality' is now determined by club allegiance rather than a postal address.
6. Taylor's track record: He has officiated matches in which City have been defeated - most notably the Manchester derby in January 2026. These outcomes are cited by PGMOL as proof that his birthplace does not compromise his impartiality on the pitch.
7. Confirmed officiating list: Taylor will be accompanied at the Etihad Stadium this weekend by Gary Beswick and Ian Hussin. Overseeing proceedings from the Video Assistant Referee room is John Brooks, assisted by Stuart Burt.
8. When is Man City vs Arsenal?: The title-race encounter is scheduled to kick off at 4:30pm on Sunday. The match will take place at the Etihad Stadium.
9. How to watch the top-of-the-table clash: Live coverage will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. The official broadcast coverage for the fixture begins at 4pm, providing viewers with 30 minutes of pre-match build-up.
10. Team news update: City will be missing vice-captain Ruben Dias for the showdown with Arsenal, leaving Guardiola to rely on Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guehi at the heart of his backline. The Gunners are without Mikel Merino and potentially Noni Madueke, while Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka are also facing late fitness tests.
11. READ MORE: City vs Arsenal title verdict - including key game that's already been played