China News Network, Beijing, June 21 (Title: Ma Ning's whistle blow, another way for Chinese football to arrive)
China News Network reporters Guo Xuan, Xing Chong
On local time June 20, at the Kansas City Stadium in the United States, World Cup debutants Curaçao drew 0:0 with South American powerhouse Ecuador, securing the first point in their World Cup history.
Without traditional giants or superstar players, this group match drew extraordinary public attention due to a whistle blow from a Chinese referee: Ma Ning served as the main referee, Zhou Fei as the assistant referee, and Fu Ming as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). This is the first time in the history of the World Cup finals that Chinese referees have covered all three core officiating positions, marking a full-setup appearance by Chinese referees.
This was also Ma Ning's first time stepping onto the World Cup stage as a main referee. A netizen remarked, "Others appreciate players, we appreciate referees." This lighthearted comment reflects the complex yet genuine emotions of Chinese fans. While the Chinese national team is still chasing its World Cup dream, Ma Ning and the Chinese refereeing team he leads have reached this highest stage in another way.
A main referee debut that withstood the test
On the football pitch, referees are not the protagonists, but they hold the order of the match. Every whistle blow, every gesture, and every decision is linked to the flow of the game and the dignity of the rules.
In the domestic league, Ma Ning is well-known for his strict and decisive officiating style, once holding a record of issuing 12 cards in a single match, earning him the playful nickname "Card Master." For World Cup matches characterized by frequent physical clashes and fast-paced offense and defense, the so-called "cards" are by no means a gimmick, but rather an important way for the main referee to control the pace of the match and define the boundaries of confrontation.
After kickoff, the game flowed relatively smoothly, but in the 38th minute, Ecuador's Alcívar committed a tactical foul, bringing down Curaçao's Tahith Chong. Ma Ning decisively showed the first yellow card of the match. Just a minute later, Curaçao's Bacuna brought down opponent player Plata, and Ma Ning pulled out a card once again. "Ma Ning gets 2 yellows in 1 minute" quickly became a trending topic on social platforms.
After the side change in the second half, the contention became even more intense, and Curaçao players' defensive actions increased. Ma Ning successively showed 4 yellow cards to the Curaçao team. Throughout the match, he issued a total of 6 yellow cards to both teams, the second most among all matches since the start of this tournament, second only to the 7 yellow cards in the match between the United States and Australia.
Behind the yellow cards is the main referee's continuous calibration of the officiating threshold. What tests a referee even more is whether he can steady his judgment at critical moments. During stoppage time, an Ecuador player fell inside the Curaçao penalty area, and Ma Ning did not award a penalty kick initially. After the VAR intervened with a reminder, he briefly checked, maintained his original decision, and blew the final whistle shortly afterward.
On the World Cup stage, any penalty-area decision can alter the match result and be scrutinized repeatedly. Ma Ning was not swayed by the players' emotions, nor did he easily alter his original judgment. Throughout the match, his standards were consistent, and his control of the match scene was relatively clear, which was considered "a main referee debut that withstood the test."
A foreign netizen commented: "He won't be fooled by players' frequent dives, keeps the game flowing smoothly, and can even be said to be one of the best-performing referees since the start of the tournament."
From the sidelines to the World Cup center circle
Four years ago at the Qatar World Cup, Ma Ning was also selected for the referee roster. That time, he only served as the fourth official for six group matches.
How long does it take for a referee to reach the position of World Cup main referee? Ma Ning's answer is actually more than just 4 years.
In 1999, Ma Ning entered the Shenyang Sport University majoring in track and field, and started his amateur referee career out of a love for football. After graduating in 2003, he became a physical education teacher, but still actively applied to officiate youth matches. "I didn't consider the pay much; I just loved football and wanted to officiate more matches."
In 2010, Ma Ning began officiating in the Chinese Super League (CSL). A higher level of professional matches meant a faster pace, more fierce confrontations, and more controversy and pressure. To avoid injuries, he, who loved playing football, almost stopped playing football altogether after embarking on the path of a professional referee.
Remaining on the green pitch in another identity also meant giving up the joy he was once familiar with.
In 2011, Ma Ning became an international referee and conceived the idea of making a run at the World Cup. Since then, he has continuously accumulated experience in international arenas, successively officiating high-level matches such as the AFC Champions League finals in the 2018-2019 and 2022-2023 seasons, and the 2024 AFC Asian Cup final.
The World Cup does not choose any main referee by accident. Being able to stand here relies on long-term stable professional competence, physical reserve, on-field control, and international match experience. To officiate the World Cup, Ma Ning underwent high-intensity training 5 to 6 times a week, persistently maintained a low-carbohydrate diet year-round, avoided red meat, and controlled his body fat rate at around 11%.
Some say Ma Ning's story tells people that a referee walking to the World Cup center circle relies not on some lucky selection, but on standing on the sidelines countless times, watching others blow the opening whistle; passing through controversy and doubt countless times while still gripping the whistle tightly in hand; and never letting go of the dream after countless physical tests, reviews, officiating, and waiting.
Another way for Chinese football to arrive
Chinese fans have always held a special sentiment toward the World Cup. Because of this, when Ma Ning stood in the World Cup center circle, when Zhou Fei ran along the sideline, and when Fu Ming sat in front of the VAR seat, what Chinese fans saw was not just three referees, but another real way for Chinese football to arrive at the World Cup.
"We have been working hard all these years just to let everyone know that Chinese referees have the ability to stand on the highest stage of world football," Ma Ning said.
The world of football consists of more than just players and goals; it also includes rules, systems, talent cultivation, and professional standards. The fact that Chinese referees can enter the World Cup officiating roster shows that in the world football system, Chinese people are not mere bystanders. It is just that this path has few applauses and more scrutiny, few celebrations and more pressure, and often requires proving one's professional competence amidst controversy.
Today, FIFA has canceled the upper age limit of 45 for international referees. Whether the 47-year-old Ma Ning will have another chance to play another World Cup remains unknown. He stated that he will make a comprehensive judgment after the conclusion of this World Cup. "As long as there is hope for Chinese football and Chinese football needs me, I will definitely go all out."
"During the World Cup, we will earnestly learn from the world's best referees and bring valuable experience back to China, contributing our strength to the cultivation and development of Chinese referees," Ma Ning said.
The whistle on the football pitch is short, but it can pierce through the noise. This whistle blow comes from China. (End)
