Ma Ning

On 23 February 2019, it was announced that Ma Ning had been hired by CFA to become one of the professional referees in China. On 19 May 2022, Ma was selected as one of the 36 referees for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, becoming the second Chinese referee to achieve this since Lu Jun in 2002. On 21 August 2022, during a Chinese Super League game between Wuhan Yangtze River and Henan Songshan Longmen, Ma was deliberately knocked over by Songshan Longmen striker Henrique Dourado, who was subsequently sent off for violent conduct. The game finished 2–2. Five days later, the Chinese FA announced a 12-month suspension to Dourado, which was the most severe penalty in the history of the Chinese Super League. On 2 February 2023, at the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup, Ma officiated a match between Al Ahly and Auckland City, with Al Ahly winning 3–0. On 8 February 2024, Ma Ning was appointed to take charge of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup final between Jordan and Qatar in Doha on 10 February 2024. On 14 October 2025, Ma was appointed as one of the 14 referees for the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup, having thus far overseen the matches between Mauritania and Kuwait, Morocco and Comoros, and the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Ma was one of the 52 referees to officiate matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, being the only Chinese referee since Lu Jun to be the central referee. On 20 June 2026, Ma debuted as the referee at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group E match between Ecuador and Curacao, and issued six yellow cards.