Match officials confirmed for Chelsea clash in Atlanta

Wednesday 26th July
Newcastle United vs Chelsea
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Kick-off 8:15pm EDT/1:15am BST
Ticket details

Bankes is one of a handful of British officials selected to represent PGMOL at the pre-season competition in the States, with a number of MLS-based referees also receiving appointments.

Lancashire whistler Bankes became an EFL official in 2014 after a few years as a Select Group assistant referee, but it wasn't until 2019 that he was promoted to the Select Group 1 band as a main referee.

His Premier League bow came in August 2019, and later that season he issued his first top flight red card - to Newcastle United's Valentino Lazaro in the Magpies' 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in February 2020.

Last season, the 41-year-old oversaw two games involving Eddie Howe's side - the 1-1 draw at Wolves in August 2022 and the 1-1 home draw with West Ham in February.

2022/23 stats

Games (all competitions): 35
Yellow cards issued: 149
Red cards issued: 1

Assistants

Assistant referees: James Mainwaring and Nick Greenhalgh
Fourth official: Alek Zhelyazkov