Chinese Referee Ma Ning Draws Attention at World Cup

During Curaçao’s 0-0 draw with Ecuador, fans largely focused on the Curaçaoan goalkeeper, who delivered an impressive 15-save performance. In China, however, attention was drawn to Ma Ning, a 47-year-old referee who stood out as the tournament’s highest-ranking Chinese official.

Ma Ning has emerged as China’s representative in the World Cup due to the country’s team not qualifying. His presence has elevated his profile, a notable achievement in a role that often remains in the background.

This tournament represents a significant accomplishment for Ma Ning and his colleagues, assistant referee Zhou Fei and video assistant referee Fu Ming. This team is the first from China to officiate a World Cup match. Ma is also recognized as the first Chinese referee to be selected for two consecutive World Cups. Although selected for the 2022 event, he did not officiate on field, making his current role even more significant.

For China, with a population of 1.4 billion, Ma’s involvement has provided a reason to celebrate. The last time the national team qualified was in 2002, when they exited without scoring a goal in the group stages.

The state-run media in China praised the match held in Kansas City, Missouri, and the participation of Chinese referees, labeling it a “historic milestone.” Many Chinese fans expressed on social media that their reason for watching the game was to see Ma officiate.