West Ham United v AFC Bournemouth
Carabao Cup second round, London Stadium, Wednesday 28 August, 7.45pm BST
Referee: Peter Bankes
Assistant Referees: Marc Perry and Akil Howson
Fourth Official: John Busby
Peter Bankes has been confirmed as the referee for West Ham United’s first outing in the 2024/25 edition of the Carabao Cup, at home to Premier League rivals AFC Bournemouth.
The 42-year-old has been part of Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) Select Group One since the 2019/20 campaign, three seasons after being promoted to Select Group Two.
His first appointment in the top-flight came in August 2019, four years after his maiden appearance in the EFL Cup, when he oversaw Walsall’s 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion in the second round.
In the third round of the competition that same year, Bankes refereed his first game involving West Ham, as Slaven Bilić’s side were defeated 2-1 by Leicester City after extra-time.
In total, he has held the whistle at ten fixtures involving the Irons, including last season’s Premier League draws away at Bournemouth and at home to Newcastle United.
Away from the domestic scene, Bankes has refereed at international level on two occasions, and in UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying four times.
Marc Perry and Akil Howson will serve as the assistant referees under the London Stadium lights.
Perry is well versed at the top level, having run the line at 292 Premier League games.
Howson, meanwhile, was promoted to Select Group One in 2023 and was the first person of black, Asian or mixed heritage to be a permanent official in the English top flight in 15 years. He last performed assistant referee duties at a Hammers game in the 3-1 defeat to Manchester City on the final day of the 2023/24 campaign.
John Busby will undertake fourth official duties on Wednesday evening. An experienced whistler in the EFL, Busby has worked as a fourth official in the EFL Cup seven times during his career, including three games last season.
VAR will not be in use during this Carabao Cup clash.
