China World Cup hopes pinned on referee Ma Ning, could ‘impartial’ official oversee final?

Eleven years after the three reds and nine yellows he brandished in an ill-tempered Shanghai derby led to him being labelled the “card master”, a nickname that endures to this day, Ma Ning is poised to fly the Chinese flag at the forthcoming World Cup.
Currently preparing for his second finals, after fulfilling fourth official duties in Qatar 3½ years ago, Ma is growing into his country’s biggest star at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
China have notoriously failed to...