The team of officials has now been revealed for Sunday’s clash at the Stadium of Light
17:19, 08 Dec 2025Updated 17:29, 08 Dec 2025
Referee Peter Bankes will take charge of the Tyne-Wear derby.
Newcastle United and Sunderland have learned who the team of officials will be on Sunday at the Stadium of Light.
The man in the middle will be referee Peter Bankes of Lancashire with the 43-year-old assisted by Eddie Smart and Blake Antrobus as linesmen. Simon Hooper is the fourth official on Wearside this weekend.
And it will be Stuart Attwell, fresh from two penalty awards at St James’ Park against Burnley on Saturday in the 2-1 win, who will be in action in the VAR box.
Assistant VAR will be Alex Chilowicz, with a day of drama likely to be in store for the Magpies and Black Cats.
Bankes has been in charge of two Newcastle games this season, having officiated the home wins against Nottingham Forest and Fulham. He awarded Eddie Howe’s side a penalty against Forest, which Nick Woltemade guided home.
But Bankes was booed off at St James’ Park when failing to clamp down on fouls on Woltemade in the 2-1 win over Fulham this season. Woltemade’s shirt was pulled continuously without punishment earlier this season.
He got a slight taste of a northern clash when he refereed the 0-0 draw with Leeds at Elland Road earlier in the season, booking Nick Pope in Yorkshire.
Bankes has only sent off a Newcastle player once in his career when dismissing Valentino Lazaro back in the 2019/20 season in a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.
Lazaro was sent for an early bath when pulling back Wilfried Zaha in a clear and obvious professional foul at Selhurst Park.
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