Chinese Football Fans Rally Around Referee Ma Ning
At the World Cup, China lacks a national team to support. Thus, referee Ma Ning has become the country’s representative for the tournament.
Ma Ning, nicknamed “Card Master” due to his penchant for issuing yellow and red cards, has gained significant attention online with his trip to North America.
The hashtag related to Ma’s journey to the finals on Weibo has garnered over 3.6 million views. His RedNote account has also seen a surge in followers, gaining 195,000 within two weeks.
Ma’s collaborations with brands like Lenovo, Hisense, and Mengniu have further amplified his presence online. His first post on RedNote featured him drawing a red book from his pocket, reflecting the platform’s name.
The prospect of Ma officiating matches between the U.S. and Iran has been met with enthusiasm, as China plays a role in promoting peace in the conflict. Social media users rallied behind Ma, despite the national team’s failure to qualify for the tournament.