Abu Dhabi/Dubai Abu Dhabi/Dubai: Residents have contested results of a field study that suggests over-the-top excitement while watching the Fifa World Cup could affect married life.

A field study of 150 married couples published on Monday said 47 per cent or nearly half of them were likely to develop marital differences in supporting their teams of choice for the World Cup, especially if the teams differ. In some cases, the study says, small rifts could result to a marriage breakdown, the study suggested.

The couples, mostly Gulf nationals and from other Arab nationalities, participated in the online questionnaire that was conducted on the website of the Family Consultative Council in the UAE [www.fconc.com].

But residents, interviewed by Gulf News, say the World Cup is actually one of “the most exciting and fun-filled” events in the world. It acts as a gathering point for friends and family who look forward to it.

Dr Huda Al Suwaidi, Director of the Family Development Department at the Community Development Authority, said the findings of this field study do not, in any way, reflect reality.

“This [World Cup] is very trivial to cause a divorce. We have statistics that show the main causes of separation, and the World Cup is not one of them,” Dr Al Suwaidi told Gulf News.

“Incompatibility between man and woman in their first year is the number one cause, followed by cheating, while the third reason is financial issues,” she added.

Residents agreed that the insinuation of the study is unfounded.

“I think arguments can be quite common between couples mainly because of the lack of attention by husbands — however, it’s ridiculous and quite extreme to get divorced because of a month of football,” Kuwaiti Sarah Khalid told Gulf News.

Married for three years, Sarah explained that because it’s the first World Cup for her and her husband to watch together, she is trying to take an interest in football and is being as involved as she possibly can.

Ahmad Abu Zaid, 32, who works as a Technical Manager at a private consultancy firm, said the World Cup could cause a problem between couples to some extent if only one party is passionate about it. But it does not automatically merit a divorce.

“I think, to some extent, the World Cup does cause a rift between a man and his wife if the wife is not a football fan. I mean, my wife is in Egypt and I usually come home after work every day and Skype with her but these days I haven’t been doing that because of the matches. So, naturally, she got upset with me. I am scheduled to travel to Egypt anyway after the World Cup is over so I think I will find a way to fix this issue,” Abu Zaid said.

Elaborating on the findings of the questionnaire, Khalifa Mohammad Al Muharrazy, head of the Family Consultative Council, who conducted the study, said he has received 17 cases for family consultations related to arguments about the World Cup less than a week after it started.

“The questionnaire was carried out nearly six months ago over a period of one month. Couples are prone to breakdowns, disagreements, fights and edgy or heated arguments,” Al Muharrazy said.

A Pakistani couple in Sharjah played down the field study, saying the matches help take the edge off after a long day at work. “Actually, it’s my wife who puts on the matches for me. It’s something to look forward to,” said Syed Tirmazi, 35, who works in marketing.

“If you go to places where the games are screened, you’ll find many married couples. It’s a social and family event; it doesn’t cause rifts in marriage.”

Dr Huda encouraged residents, who are having difficulties due to any reason, to come to them for counselling.

“In Arab countries in general, people make decision without asking for professional help,” Dr Huda said. “We are here. We can give them advice to stop the problem from worsening.”

By Bassam Za’za’, Legal and Court Correspondent, Faisal Masudi, Janice Ponce de Leon, Jumana Khamis and Nada Al Taher, Staff Reporters