Home / Sports / Fans Back Referee as China's World Cup Rep
Fans Back Referee as China's World Cup Rep
10 Jun
Summary
- A referee is hailed as China's star at the World Cup.
- Ma Ning, known as 'card master', makes second World Cup appearance.
- Chinese fans rally behind Ma Ning amid national team's absence.
As China's national football team again fails to qualify for the World Cup, supporters have found an unlikely representative in referee Ma Ning. The 46-year-old official, who has gained fame for his stern officiating style and the nickname 'card master' after issuing nine yellow and three red cards in a 2015 match, will attend his second World Cup. This marks a significant moment, especially since China's last appearance in 2002.
Ma Ning's World Cup journey has become a viral sensation on Chinese social media platforms like RedNote, attracting millions of views and sparking discussions about the state of Chinese football. He has garnered endorsements from major Chinese brands, including Lenovo and Hisense. Alongside assistant referee Zhou Fei and video assistant referee Fu Ming, Ma Ning is currently in Miami for an officials' training camp.
FIFA-certified since 2011, Ma Ning also serves as a lecturer at the Nanjing Sport Institute. He recently launched a RedNote account, rapidly gaining over 197,000 followers, where he shared his preparations for the tournament. This widespread attention highlights a complex fan sentiment, blending support for Ma Ning with broader concerns over decades of corruption and funding crises that have impacted Chinese football.
