FIFA has lifted the age limit and Ma Ning is expected to enforce the World Cup
In the first Asian Cup final, Ma Ning continued his usual style, awarding Qatar three penalties in a row, and his enforcement won unanimous praise. Although Manin is about to turn 45, he still has hope of appearing at the 2026 World Cup under the current rules.
After the Asian Cup final, Zhan Jun expressed the hope that referees such as Ma Ning and Fu Ming would be able to enforce the law in the World Cup two years later. Commentator Yuan Jia pointed out the problem, "Let Ma Ning blow the 2026 World Cup, it is very difficult, Ma Ning is 44 years old, this year our Chinese Football Association Referee Committee has a new rule, all referees must retire at the age of 45, this year won a number of referees who blow the Super League, if you give Ma Ning the green light next year, I am afraid it will be difficult to convince the public." ”
However, media person Zhao Zhen has a different view, "FIFA has lifted the restriction that international referees must be under 46 years old in recent years. The Italian referee at the opening ceremony of the Qatar World Cup was the video referee of the previous edition, and he was 47 years old when he blew the Qatar World Cup. ”
"Ma Ning will also be 47 years old in 2026, as long as he has no problem with the physical fitness test, he still has the hope of being selected for the World Cup again, and even realize his dream of being a World Cup referee. If that's the case, he will become the first Chinese referee!"
It is worth mentioning that Osato, the Italian whistle who served as the opening match of the Qatar World Cup, is 49 years old, but he still officiated key matches such as Napoli vs Juventus and Milan vs Napoli this season. Not only that, but the Saudi league also offered high salaries in an attempt to poach Osato completely.
In fact, since 2016, FIFA has announced the abolition of the age limit for international referees, with instead a "professional technical and physical assessment" by the referee committee. In other words, as long as the physical fitness is up to the standard, the referee can continue to work as an enforcer.
During his tenure as a referee for the 2023 Club World Cup, Ma Ning replaced the assistant referees with younger Zhou Fei and Zhang Cheng, and the three also officiated the events of this Asian Cup together, which was interpreted by the outside world as a strong signal that Ma Ning wanted to enforce the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Failing to serve as a referee at the Qatar World Cup has become a regret in Ma Ning's career, and he once said, "Being selected for the World Cup referee list proves that FIFA and the AFC recognize the ability and level of Chinese referees, but unfortunately I did not get the opportunity to referee the game as a referee." ”
Two years later, there is hope that he will make amends.