The referee for the Arsenal - Tottenham match has been banned by the Premier League.

The 199th North London derby between Tottenham and Arsenal in the Premier League was heated not only because of the historic rivalry but also due to the background story of the official overseeing the match.

Referee Peter Bankes, assigned to officiate at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, is actually barred from refereeing matches involving two other clubs in England’s top league.

The clash between Tottenham and Arsenal holds special significance in the title race. After Manchester City took advantage of Arsenal’s slip-up against Wolves to reduce the gap to just two points, every Arsenal match now directly impacts the top spot. Fortunately for coach Arteta’s team, they delivered a crushing victory over their biggest rivals on the road.

However, notably, Bankes has never officiated any match involving Liverpool or Everton since joining the Premier League. This is not due to his skill but because of strict league regulations.

According to the rules, referees must declare the teams they support or any connections that could cause a conflict of interest. Bankes is affiliated with the Liverpool Football Association, so he is not assigned to games involving the two Merseyside clubs, Liverpool and Everton, to ensure full transparency and fairness.

This rule also applies to other referees. Michael Oliver, one of England’s most renowned officials, is barred from overseeing Newcastle matches, the club he has supported since childhood, as well as Sunderland. Similarly, Jarred Gillet publicly acknowledged being a Liverpool fan, thus he cannot referee games involving Liverpool or Everton.

The Premier League’s implementation of this transparency mechanism demonstrates its commitment to protecting fairness amid growing pressure from media and fans on match outcomes. Especially in a derby like Tottenham vs Arsenal, every referee decision can be scrutinized intensely.