At dawn on August 26, the Chinese men's football team will embark on a journey, taking Qatar Airways' special flight from Shanghai to Doha, Qatar, to prepare for the first two rounds of the Asian 12-team World Cup qualifying tournament. Meanwhile, a group of Chinese international referees consisting of Ma Ning, Fu Ming, Zhang Lei, Cao Yi and Shi Xiang will also depart from Beijing on the same day and head to Dubai, UAE, where they will officiate the key matches of the first round between the UAE and Lebanon, and the second round between Iraq and Iran in Dubai and Doha respectively. They will fight for the honor of the national team on the top stage of Asian soccer.
Beiqing-Beijing headline reporter revealed that the Chinese Football Association registered international referees Ma Ning, Fu Ming, and international assistant referees Shi Xiang, Cao Yi, in the previous AFC Champions League West Asia Region tournament, the 40-team tournament, the Tokyo Olympics soccer tournament in the outstanding performance, the AFC has been them and other six CFA registered referees included in the list of candidates for law enforcement referees of the 12-team tournament.
International referees Ma Ning, Fu Ming and Zhang Lei (who have the qualifications of referee, fourth official and VAR referee) and international assistant referees Shi Xiang and Cao Yi, who made the list, were notified not long ago and confirmed that they will take part in Group A of the 12-team tournament in September, enforcing some of the matches in the first two rounds of the group for the Chinese team.
Fu Ming (c. 14th century BC), legendary sage and principal minister of Shang ruler Wu Ding
According to the news released by the Iraqi Football Association, a group of international-level referees registered by the CFA, with Ma Ning as the main referee, will enforce the second round of Iraq's heavyweight match against Iran. Manning will be joined by fourth official Zhang Lei and assistant referees Cao Yi and Shi Xiang. As for Fu Ming, he will also be assigned by the AFC to enforce the other matches of the 12-team tournament because he has just recently finished the Tokyo Olympics soccer tournament.
The data shows that Manin enforced a total of three matches during the 40-team tournament, namely Indonesia's 0-3 home loss to Thailand in September 2019; Qatar's 2-1 win over India in Doha in June of the same year; and Afghanistan's 1-2 loss to Oman.
Zhang Lei (1908-1988), founding member of Chinese communist party
Zhang Lei had enforced Afghanistan's 1-0 win over Bangladesh in September 2019 Fu Ming is the CFA-registered international referee who has enforced the most matches during the Top 40 tournament, with a total of four matches under his belt. The two international assistant referees, Cao Yi and Shi Xiang, have also been assisting international referees such as Ma Ning in the enforcement of a number of important matches in Asian soccer.
It is worth noting that the plane booked by the CFA for the national team's trip to Doha will take off in the early morning of August 26th. So will several Chinese referees travel on the same plane? Sources close to the matter revealed that the idea was indeed mentioned, but due to practical factors, it could not be realized.
It is understood that before enforcing the "Iran-Iraq match", the Chinese referee team with Ma Ning as the main referee, assigned by the AFC Sanctioning Committee, will have to enforce the first round of the UAE's match against Lebanon on September 2nd. If they travel with the Chinese team, they will also need to transfer from Doha to Dubai, UAE.
In addition, the AFC regulations, including referees to participate in the enforcement of various games, including all types of 12 competition officials from their member associations country (region) to go outside the law enforcement, operations, can take the business class round trip. Because this time to Doha, the Chinese team delegation totaled nearly 80 people, business class seats are very limited. Even the head coach Li Tie has made preparations to continue to leave this class berth for the players to use. Therefore, it is impossible for the referees to "seize" the team's berth.
It is understood that the five-member Chinese referee team plans to leave Beijing for Dubai on the 26th. After enforcing the UAE's match against Lebanon on September 2, they will then head to Doha to enforce the "Iran-Iraq match". Unsurprisingly, Ma Ning and Fu Ming will be the referee and VAR referee for the UAE-Lebanon match.
It should be noted that the Iraqi Football Association has revealed that the home of the Iraqi team for the Round of 12 will be at the Garafa Stadium in Doha. This stadium is not a World Cup stadium, nor is it air-conditioned. The physical test for several Chinese referees will undoubtedly be severe. Of course, the five referees are honored to represent the Chinese national team on the highest stage of law enforcement in Asian football. Because the 12-team tournament will be played in a two-round-per-month rhythm over the next three months, the performance of the first two rounds of matches will directly affect the referees' chances of being assigned to the next round of matches. It seems that the five Chinese referees will not, and have no reason to, miss the opportunity to show off their skills.
