Chinese referee Ma Ning, 46, has become a viral symbol for Chinese football fans at the 2026 World Cup after the national team failed to qualify for the event in North America [1, 2]. Known as the "Card Master" for issuing nine yellow and three red cards in a heated 2015 Shanghai derby match, Ma Ning is the only Chinese match referee at the tournament and is joined by assistant referee Zhou Fei and VAR official Fu Ming [1, 2].
Ma Ning is making his second World Cup appearance, having debuted as a fourth official at the 2022 tournament in Qatar [1, 2]. In May 2026, he shared photos on social media of his preparations for the World Cup finals hosted across Mexico, Canada, and the United States, generating significant online attention [1, 2]. A Weibo hashtag related to his World Cup trip garnered more than 3.6 million views, while his RedNote social media account gained 195,000 followers in less than two weeks [1, 2].
Chinese fans expressed their support online, with one Weibo user joking that Ma Ning's luggage must be "all filled with yellow and red cards," another stating, "The whole country is behind you (though no one from the Chinese football team)" [1]. His nickname dates back to the 2015 Shanghai derby, where his strict refereeing earned him a reputation for controlling heated matches [1, 2].
Beyond the pitch, Ma Ning has partnered with major Chinese brands such as Lenovo, Hisense, and Mengniu, further increasing his profile at home [1, 2].
Ma Ning continues to officiate matches at the 2026 World Cup, representing China on the global stage in the absence of the national team.