After 16 Straight Years Without a World Cup Appointment, Korean Media Sparks Heated Debate: “A Disgrace—Even Chinese Referees Made the Cut”

China’s football scene has earned a clear win over South Korea this time—at least on the refereeing front. After Ma Ning was named among the AFC’s 10 World Cup candidate referees, the news immediately set off a storm in Korean football circles. With no Korean referee making the list, it effectively means South Korea has now gone 16 consecutive years without a referee appointment at the World Cup. Korean media and fans reacted sharply, venting frustration and calling the situation humiliating—especially with comments like, “Even a Chinese referee made it.”

Korean football only learned yesterday that not a single Korean official was included in the latest referee seminar for next year’s World Cup. The AFC is sending 10 participants to the workshop, including China’s Ma Ning and Japan’s Araki Yusuke. South Korea’s last appearance by an assistant referee at the World Cup dates back to the 2010 tournament in South Africa, while the last time a Korean referee served as the main referee was 24 years ago at the Korea-Japan World Cup.

The backlash inside South Korea has been intense. One Korean referee reportedly described the outcome as a “disaster,” arguing that the overall standard of Korean refereeing has continued to decline. Critics also pointed to the Korean Football Association’s efforts over the past five years, saying significant funding was poured into developing officials for the 2026 World Cup cycle—yet the results still fell short.

Korean media have further highlighted controversy in the K League, claiming the number of major refereeing errors jumped from 28 last year to 79 this year. Reports also noted that high-profile figures—including star player Jesse Lingard and head coach Gus Poyet—have had public disputes with referees, adding fuel to the debate over officiating quality.

Meanwhile, Ma Ning’s momentum has continued to build. Following his inclusion on the AFC candidate list, he officiated the Arab Cup final early this morning as the fourth official, and some observers believe he could even be in contention to serve as a main referee at next year’s World Cup. Korean outlets reportedly gave Ma Ning prominent coverage, with some expressing disappointment and embarrassment that China’s national team may not have qualified for the World Cup, yet a Chinese referee is gaining international recognition.

Japanese media also weighed in, reporting that the situation surrounding Korean referees has become widely discussed and heavily criticized. While China’s men’s team has not reached the World Cup, this development is being framed as a meaningful breakthrough for Chinese football in another arena—refereeing. Supporters will now hope that after serving as a fourth official at the last World Cup, Ma Ning can take the next step and earn the chance to officiate matches as a main referee on football’s biggest stage.