Ma Ning praised by foreign fans: Master-level officiating! Best referee of this World Cup, not fooled by diving

In the World Cup Group E second-round match that ended on June 21 Beijing time, newcomers Curacao shocked Ecuador with a 0-0 draw, securing their first-ever point in the tournament. The 47-year-old Chinese referee Ma Ning, officiating his first World Cup match as the lead referee, showed outstanding performance.

Throughout the match, Ma Ning did not generate much controversy with his decisions. Although he issued six yellow cards, making this the game with the second-highest number of yellow cards in the tournament, each booking was largely uncontroversial. Moreover, his control over the pace of the game demonstrated top-tier refereeing skill.

During stoppage time, an Ecuadorian player went down in the Curacao penalty area and appealed for a penalty. Ma Ning remained calm and composed, and after communicating with VAR referee Fu Ming, he refused to award a last-minute spot kick. The diving Ecuadorian player ultimately could only walk away in frustration.

After the match, Ma Ning's officiating received high praise from many foreign fans. One fan commented: "His work is truly admirable! His reaction to the diving theatrics of South American players is refreshing. Hopefully, such referees will appear more often in major tournaments!"

"He might have missed one or two calls, but Ma Ning kept the game flowing and made it more enjoyable to watch—making the entire match even more exciting!" Another wrote: "This is one of the best referee performances I've ever seen! He never fell for any diving acts!"

"Congratulations to Curacao, but don't overlook Chinese referee Ma Ning's performance. He is, in my opinion, the best referee in this tournament. Consistent and standard in his calls—truly a masterclass performance!"