Today, the Chinese Super League referee lineup was officially unveiled, with many familiar faces emerging from the much-anticipated list. Renowned referee Ma Ning, known as the favorite of the AFC, naturally cannot be absent. Former "Golden Whistle" Zhang Lei's place of registration has also changed, moving from Dalian to Tianjin, a change that makes people look forward to this year's Super League refereeing circle.
However, the mention of Manning has brought mixed emotions from fans. Some were disgusted by the Chen dock incident, but others were convinced that a storm was about to sweep through the refereeing world. Today, Manning's name still appears on the Chinese Super League's enforcement list, along with star referees Ai Miao, Shi Zhenlu, Jin Jingyuan, Li Haixin, Hei Xiaohu, Shen Yinhao, Fu Ming, Wang Di and others.
Looking back on the past year, Manning's performance has been remarkable. As a leading Asian referee, he refereed several World Cups and appeared in the opening match of the Club World Cup, becoming the focus of attention of the European and American media. Fu Ming is also highly favored by the AFC and has made numerous appearances in the AFC Champions League, and has refereed the U23 Asian Cup and the U19 Asian Youth Championship. However, Xinjiang referee Maimetijiang Aihmeti, who sparked a controversy over VAR penalties, was unanimously praised.
It is worth noting that Zhang Lei's change of registration means he will not be able to enforce the Tianjin Teda match, but could appear in the Dalian People's match. In this year's Chinese Super League and AFC Cup, the referee lineup has changed considerably, with one referee enforcing no more than three matches for one team at most. Guizhou's Ma Yunkun, Henan's Shan Danao and Beijing's Chen Jindong are highly anticipated as new referees who have received professional training.
As the Chinese Super League draws nearer, the AFC Champions League has quietly changed its New Year's Eve format and the new season's fixtures are about to unfold. Most referees will be tasked with Asian enforcement in the second half of the year, when they will face a tougher test.
