WORLD Cup 2026 may have come and gone but the reverberations rumble on.
From late night brawls at mamak restaurants during viewing sessions to punters fleeing the attentions of bookies for monies owed, there has been no shortage of football-related headlines here in Malaysia.
The latest, and quite possibly the most bizarre involves a wager of a different kind.
The hot news making the rounds is that an over-confident Argentina fan who had put his nuptials on the line by waging that he would “cerai talak tiga” with his spouse should La Albiceleste lose the final.
Editor’s Note: “Cerai talak tiga” is an Islamic term referring to a final, irrevocable divorce.
It happens when a husband pronounces the word talak (divorce) to his wife three separate times – either all at once or over a period. In Malaysia, this must be officially confirmed and validated by the Syariah Court.
The reckless bet gained attention on social media when a Threader who goes by the handle of @raudhah.24 shared grouse of the distressed wife of the said Argentina fan.
Apparently in a cocksure mood prior to the final, the presumptuous husband laid down a marker by declaring to his friends that he would divorce his wife if Argentina lost the final.
Describing the spouse as a “jantan bodoh” (stupid male), the poster was left speechless that matrimonial harmony could be taken so lightly for it to be the outcome of a bet.
In the wake of La Roja’s success in defeating Leo Messi and cohorts, the husband was left with not just egg on his face but also the consequences of his reckless pronouncements.
The unimpressed raudhah.24’s predicament was also shared by former religious affairs minister Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri in a separate post on Threads.
Needless to say, the condemnation was swift with public reaction ranging from shock to extreme anger as news spread (predominantly in Malay language platforms) that a husband could so foolishly utter such words.
However, not all is lost as pertinent advice was forthcoming from Zulkifli who counselled – first and foremost – that the couple should seek guidance from the Syariah court.
“The husband’s belief that his chosen team will win does not negate the effect of the statement when the conditions he stated actually apply,” remarked Zulkifli who served under eighth premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin from March 2020 to August 2021.
At the same time, the Terengganu-born Islamic scholar reminded the public to guard their tongues and never make the issue of marriage, divorce and rujuk (reconciliation) a joke, a bet or an excuse for something.
“This is because the implications are very serious on family life,” he concluded.
Pertinent advice indeed for football fans to be mindful that utterances such as this are never meant to be made lightly. – July 21, 2026
Main image credit: football information tach/YouTube
