Ma Ning: 'Card Master' referee representing success-starved China fans at World Cup
Chinese football fans left without a national team to support at the World Cup have turned to referee Ma Ning -- nicknamed "Card Master" as the country's representative for the tournament...
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With China's national football team failing to qualify for the World Cup, fans have embraced referee Ma Ning as their representative. The 46-year-old official, nicknamed "Card Master," has become an unlikely viral star, gaining a large following on social media.
- Ma Ning is the only Chinese match referee at the tournament, marking his second World Cup appearance.
- A hashtag related to his trip has garnered over 3.6 million views on Weibo.
- He has appeared in collaborations with brands such as Lenovo, Hisense, and Mengniu.
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Somali Referee Removed from World Cup After Being Denied Entry to US - June 2026
Award-winning Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been removed from officiating duties at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after being denied entry into the United States. At the same time, Chinese referee Ma Ning has become an unlikely viral star among Chinese fans whose national team failed to qualify for the World Cup. The 46-year-old official, nicknamed "Card Master," is representing success-starved China fans at the tournament. Former Harambee Starlets defender Terry Ouko has also been appointed by FIFA to a key role at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, representing Kenya on the global stage.
