It’s Blowing Up! Indonesian Media Calls for Investigation into Ma Ning — “He’s Suspicious and Always Sparks Controversy, FIFA Must Step In!”

In a dramatic twist during the fourth stage of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, Indonesia suffered a narrow 0–1 defeat to Iraq, ending their dream of reaching the tournament. However, the post-match spotlight quickly shifted from the game itself to the man in charge — Chinese referee Ma Ning — whose decisions sparked intense outrage across Indonesia.

Many Indonesian fans and media outlets have accused Ma Ning of repeatedly making unfair calls that disadvantaged their team. Some even went as far as to demand that FIFA launch an investigation, claiming Ma Ning has a long history of controversial officiating and that there may be “something suspicious” behind his decisions.

The Indonesian outlet Koran Jakarta voiced strong criticism, stating: “Ma Ning’s name is far from unfamiliar. He has officiated numerous major matches across Asia, yet his career has always been shadowed by controversy. When the AFC assigned Ma Ning to oversee the Indonesia–Iraq match, many were already concerned — Ma Ning is known for sparking disputes rather than calming them.”

The report continued, citing past examples of his contentious officiating: “Ma Ning awarded three penalties to hosts Qatar in the Asian Cup final, sent off three Shanghai Shenhua players during the 2015 Shanghai Derby, and was even attacked by an enraged Henan player in 2022. His refereeing style is notoriously strict, but the number of controversial moments is simply too high. It’s worth noting that Ma Ning also officiated Indonesia’s 0–3 loss to Thailand, in which one of Thailand’s goals came from a penalty he awarded. Given his history, Ma Ning’s behavior in this match is deeply questionable. FIFA should re-evaluate his qualifications and investigate whether there are deeper issues behind his repeated controversial decisions.”

From the Indonesian perspective, the grievances are clear: Ma Ning allegedly ignored a potential penalty for Indonesia without consulting VAR and turned a blind eye to Iraq’s aggressive fouls. While emotions are running high after their elimination, it remains to be seen whether this clash with Indonesia will have lasting repercussions on Ma Ning’s refereeing career.