Manchester City and Arsenal are due to meet in the Carabao Cup later this month, with some suggesting it could serve as an early title decider. Both clubs are competing for the top spot in the Premier League, and many are also in the spotlight at Wembley.
Mikel Arteta’s side are aiming for a first silver medal since winning the FA Cup in 2020, and the Spaniard’s only trophy since taking charge of the Gunners in 2019. Josep Guardiola’s City are no strangers to success, but this will be their first trophy since 2024 and the first for many of the players who joined as part of the club’s rebuild.
It is expected to be a wild match in the capital, with Peter Banks set to referee the match. A statement from PGMOL reads as follows: “Referee Peter Banks will lead the match officials team for the @Carabao_Cup final (trophy emoji).
“Peter will be supported by assistant referees Neil Davies and Steve Meredith. Tom Bramall has been appointed as fourth official and Mark Perry has been appointed as reserve assistant referee. John Brooks and Dan Robathan will act as VAR and AVAR for the final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 22nd March.”
However, if one of two different teams had made it to the finals, Banks would not have been considered for that game. Banks was raised as a Merseysider and his affiliation with the Liverpool Football Association prohibits him from managing any matches involving Liverpool or Everton.
Referees must declare which soccer team they support and are not allowed to referee matches involving that club or its rivals. He is often unable to referee matches that directly affect his chosen club, such as title deciding matches or relegation battles.
It is also likely that referees will not be given matches against other teams in the county FA or against local teams to avoid any possibility of foul play. If City and Arsenal meet in the Carabao Cup final, there will be no such worries, given that it will be an isolated match with neither Liverpool nor Everton participating.
