Peter Bankes has been appointed as the referee to cover Saturday evening’s Premier League duel between Man United and Chelsea at Old Trafford.
Bankes has shown 106 yellow cards in the Premier League since the start of the 2024/25 season, including 18 yellows and two penalties in just four matches this term. He was previously at the centre of controversy after sending off Bournemouth’s Evanilson against Man United – one of three red cards he issued last season.
Bankes could be in for another busy evening on Saturday, especially considering last season’s two clashes between the teams produced 15 yellow cards, 12 of which were shown to United players. The atmosphere promises to be a fiery one as it marks Alejandro Garnacho’s return to Old Trafford following his summer switch to Chelsea, which is sure to add an extra layer of spice.
Off the pitch, pressure is mounting on Man United boss Ruben Amorim, who is reportedly facing a three-game window to save his job, with a five-man shortlist apparently in place. However, the Red Devils can take confidence from their strong record at home in this fixture, going unbeaten in their last 12 league games at home to Chelsea, who themselves have managed just six wins from 33 visits in the Premier League era.
Bankes vs Man United Record
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Matches | 9 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Defeats | 5 |
| League Points | 7 |
| Penalties Per Game | 0.11 |
| Yellow Cards Per Game | 2 |
| Reds Per Game | 0 |
Bankes has officiated nine matches involving Man United, who have suffered a whopping five defeats during this time. The Red Devils have tallied only seven Premier League points from a possible 24 in this period and have recorded only one point from their last three games with Bankes overseeing proceedings.
Manchester United have accumulated 18 cards across Bankes’ nine games, averaging out at two yellows per game, while they have been awarded one penalty and have yet to receive a red card.
However, they’ve benefited from one red card decision from last season when Bournemouth’s Evanilson was controversially sent off by Bankes in the 70th minute with United trailing 1-0 and the Red Devils went on to score a 96th-minute equaliser. Bournemouth later had the red card overturned after an independent panel ruled the striker had slipped.
Bankes was also involved in a high-profile incident in February 2022, when United were charged by the FA for failing to control their players after surrounding the referee during a 2-0 win over Brighton. Bankes had initially booked Lewis Dunk before upgrading it to a red card after VAR intervention.
Former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also criticised Bankes for key errors in United’s shock home defeat to Sheffield United in January 2021.
Bankes vs Chelsea Record
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Matches | 11 |
| Wins | 7 |
| Draws | 3 |
| Defeats | 1 |
| League Points | 18 |
| Penalties Per Game | 0.18 |
| Yellow Cards Per Game | 1.72 |
| Reds Per Game | 0.09 |
Chelsea have enjoyed a strong record under referee Peter Bankes, winning seven of the 11 matches he’s officiated, with their only defeat coming against Wolves in the 2022/23 season.
Across those games, Chelsea have been awarded two penalties, shown 19 yellow cards, and had one player sent off.
That red card came in the most recent Chelsea match that Bankes refereed, when Marc Cucurella – who had scored earlier in the match – was sent off in the 98th minute after picking up a second yellow in a 2-1 win over Brentford.
Bankes also oversaw Chelsea’s 4-2 victory over Brighton last season in which Cole Palmer made history as the first player to score four first-half goals in a Premier League match.
What can we expect on Saturday?
There’s a good chance we’ll see several bookings on Saturday given Bankes’ own record this season (18 yellows in four games) coupled with the high card count in this fixture last season (15 yellows in two games). Bankes could also be under pressure to keep control, especially with the added sub-plot of Alejandro Garnacho’s Old Trafford return.