World Cup referee debut! Ma Ning steals the show with 6 yellow cards, rejects a last-minute penalty, and sternly silences player protests.

The World Cup Group E second-round match ended on June 21 Beijing time with Ecuador and Curacao playing to a 0-0 draw, each claiming a point. Yet beyond the result, Chinese fans were far more intrigued by the debut of 47-year-old Chinese referee Ma Ning as the head official.

In this match, Ma Ning served as the main referee for the first time in a World Cup, making him the second Chinese referee to hold that position in the tournament. His officiating throughout the game was notably impressive.

In the 30th minute, Caicedo complained about a decision, and Ma Ning called him over for a verbal warning. The Chelsea star, valued at €100 million, had to place both hands on Ma Ning's shoulder to plead for leniency.

In the 38th and 39th minutes, Ma Ning issued two yellow cards within a minute. Ecuador's Alcivar and Curacao's Leandro were both cautioned for fouls.

Just before halftime, a Curacao player slid in to tackle Valencia, and Ma Ning called a foul. The Curacao players were displeased, throwing the ball in frustration, but Ma Ning showed restraint by not issuing a yellow card.

At halftime, both teams seemed dissatisfied with the calls. Ma Ning dismissed other players who approached to protest and specifically summoned both team captains to explain his decisions, demonstrating professionalism.

In the second half, Ma Ning's officiating remained steady. He issued four yellow cards to Curacao players in the 53rd, 56th, and 75th minutes, as well as the first minute of stoppage time.

Throughout the match, a total of six yellow cards were shown, with five of them given to Curacao players by Ma Ning. This exceeded his career average of four cards per game. This match had the second-highest number of yellow cards in the tournament, behind only the seven cards in the earlier United States vs. Australia game.

In the dying seconds, an Ecuador player went down in the Curacao penalty area, but Ma Ning, showing sharp judgment, decisively rejected the penalty appeal. He then blew the final whistle with relief, concluding his World Cup head referee debut with an outstanding performance.