China Fans Pin Hopes on World Cup Referee
Wednesday, 2026/06/10166 words3 minutes2478 reads
With China's national football team failing to qualify for the World Cup once again, Chinese fans have found a new representative to support: referee Ma Ning.
The 46-year-old official has become a social media sensation, attracting sponsorships from major brands like Lenovo and Hisense. Ma is famous for his stern refereeing style. In a memorable 2015 match in Shanghai, he issued nine yellow cards and three red cards, earning him the nickname "card master".
This will be Ma's second World Cup appearance. He is currently in Miami attending a 10-day officials' camp alongside two other Chinese representatives. Ma has been a FIFA-certified referee since 2011 and also teaches at the Nanjing Sport Institute.
His popularity has exploded on Chinese social media platforms, where topics about him have generated millions of views. Many fans express both pride in Ma's achievement and disappointment about China's football situation. The country hasn't qualified for the World Cup since 2002, and the sport has struggled with funding problems and corruption scandals.
