Manchester City are set to commence their defence of the Carabao Cup with the visit of Championship side Norwich on Thursday (September 17th).
The Cityzens have been in imperious form so far this term despite the changing of guard in the dugout with Enzo Maresca replacing Pep Guardiola. They defeated neighbours Manchester United at the weekend in a game that generated so much talk due to its controversial moments.
Norwich City, on the other hand, have struggled for a bit this season, losing four of their seven games so far in the Championship. They lost their most recent one at the weekend against Middlesbrough, and they do not have the best record against Manchester City.
City have won each of their last two home games against Norwich by a 5-0 scoreline, and they have scored 19 goals in their last four games against the Canaries at the Etihad.
Meet Manchester City vs Norwich Referee Ruebyn Ricardo
The man in the middle for the game on Thursday evening will be 28-year-old Ruebyn Ricardo, who was born in Leicestershire.
Ricardo's journey to refereeing began in 2013, when a broken wrist kept him from playing any contact sports while at school. His P.E. teacher at the time suggested that he referee some of the school football games, unknowingly setting him up to become a professional referee.
He officiated his first National League match in 2022 and his first match in the EFL in April 2023 in a League Two meeting between Crewe and Swindon Town. He made his Championship debut on 1 January 2025, when Millwall and Oxford United clashed at the Den.
This season, he has already taken charge of five games, including two in the Carabao Cup. He was in charge of the first round clash between Birmingham City and Swansea City, and the second round clash between West Ham and Southampton.
In his career so far, Ricardo has never officiated a Manchester City match, only taking charge of a Premier League 2 game involving their U-21s against Aston Villa.
He has refereed Norwich City's U-21s in the PL2, but has also been in charge of Championship games involving the Canaries. They have won two and drawn one of their three Championship games that were officiated by Ricardo in the past.
Ricardo's five games this season have yielded 17 bookings and no sending offs, yet.
Who is Assisting Ruebyn Ricardo?
Ruebyn Ricardo will have James Mainwaring and Richard Woodward as his assistants on the touchline, and Michael Salisbury will be the fourth official for the game.
Being an early tie in the competition, there will be no VAR in use despite the game taking place at the Etihad Stadium, as some lower-division stadiums cannot accommodate the technology.
