BEIJING: Chinese football fans, left without a national team to support at the World Cup, have turned to referee Ma Ning as their unlikely representative at the tournament. Nicknamed 'Card Master' for his enthusiasm in issuing bookings, the 46-year-old Ma has become a viral sensation after sharing photos on social media last month of his departure for the finals in North America.
Social Media Surge
A hashtag related to Ma's trip to the World Cup has garnered over 3.6 million views on Weibo, while his RedNote account gained 195,000 followers in less than two weeks. Ma has also collaborated with brands like Lenovo, Hisense, and Mengniu.
First Post and Fan Reactions
Ma's first RedNote post showed him drawing a little red book from his referee's pocket, a playful nod to the platform's Chinese name. Another post featured him at an airport in China before departing for the tournament in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. One Weibo user commented, 'His luggage is probably all filled with yellow and red cards.'
Ma earned his 'Card Master' nickname after issuing nine yellow cards and three reds in a heated Shanghai derby in 2015. Fans also joked about Ma officiating a match between the United States and Iran, seeing it as China's role as a peace-broker. Another user quipped, 'The whole country is behind you (though no one from the Chinese football team),' taking a jab at the national team's failure to qualify.
