China's Ma Ning Prepares for 2nd World Cup as Fans Rally Behind Red-Card Referee

3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 9

Ma Ning, 46, is in Miami for a 10-day officials' camp ahead of his second World Cup, with China again absent from the tournament field.
China's sole on-pitch representative has become an unlikely fan focus because the national team has not qualified since 2002, turning the referee into a social-media celebrity.
Millions of views on RedNote and 197,000 followers on Ma's new account have fueled that attention, while Lenovo and Hisense have tied their brands to his World Cup buildup.
Ma's hardline reputation helps drive the buzz: the FIFA-certified referee earned his "card master" nickname after issuing nine yellow cards and three reds in a 2015 Shanghai match.
The fascination also underscores Chinese football's broader malaise, with two decades of funding problems and corruption leading to lifetime bans for some players, referees and club officials.