Tottenham vs Arsenal referee 'blocked' from officiating two Premier League clubs

The referee in charge of the 199th North London derby between Spurs and Arsenal is blocked from refereeing two clubs in the Premier League.

Spurs host Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the weekend's featured fixture, with ex Juventus boss Igor Tudor taking charge for the first time since replacing Thomas Frank at the helm.

The game could have huge implications on the Premier League title race after Manchester City capitalised on Arsenal's slip-up at bottom club Wolves and closed the gap to just two points at the top of the table.

Spurs could do City a huge favour if they manage to take something off their rivals, who thrashed them 4-1 in the reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium.

Peter Bankes has been appointed to referee the all-important clash, with Eddie Smart and Blake Antrobus assisting as linesmen and Sam Barrott taking on the role of fourth official. Darren England is on VAR duty, assisted by Tim Wood.

Peter Bankes is the referee for the North London derby. Image: Getty

Bankes has refereed 18 Premier League games this season and officiated Arsenal on 13 occasions, with nine wins, three losses and one draw for the Gunners.

Bankes has never refereed two teams in the Premier League

The 43-year-old has been recognised by FIFA since 2021, having refereed a Premier League game for the first time two years prior.

But while he's been a regular in the English top tier, Bankes has never refereed Everton or Liverpool.

That's because his County FA is the Liverpool Football Association and in line with Premier League rules, he has never been involved in their games.

Premier League clubs are required to confirm the team which they support and are not allowed to referee games involving the club or any that could directly impact them in any way.

Bankes cannot referee either of the Merseyside teams. Image: Getty

It is not known if Bankes supports either of Merseyside's two big games but his affiliation to the Liverpool FA means he cannot referee them regardless.

Similarly, Michael Oliver cannot referee Newcastle - the team he has supported his whole life - as well as rivals Sunderland and any other teams connected.

"We have to declare if we have an allegiance to any club or if a family member works at a club," he explained in an interview with the Daily Mail.

"You can't do any match involving that team, and I can't do Sunderland, either, for obvious reasons.

"If Newcastle needed a point to survive and the team they were fighting to get above was, say, Villa, I couldn't referee Villa's game either. I wouldn't want to. It's not worth the hassle."

In addition, Jarred Gillet had to disclose that he is a Liverpool fan when he joined the referee's group in England and therefore cannot officiate them or Everton.