Rabat – Faouzi Benzarti, a Tunisian coach and former football player, has said that alcohol is not “religiously forbidden” as no verse in the Quran declares alcohol consumption illicit.
In a talk show on the Carthage Plus channel, Benzarti made controversial statements about the consumption of alcohol in Islam while appearing on a talk show on the Carthage Plus channel. “It [alcohol] is not halal, but it is okay for the human being to drink moderately, the Quran states that alcohol has benefits,” he commented.
The coach went on to admit that he occasionally drinks alcohol, pointing out that he couldn’t give up alcohol and gambling for years.
Alcohol is forbidden in Islam as it is considered an intoxicant. As the Quran indicates that any sin that could potentially harm an individual is Haram, alcohol and gambling are considered great sins in Islam.
“They ask you about intoxicants and gambling. Say, ‘In them is GREAT SIN and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit,” reads the Quran in chapter 2 verse 219.
Benarti also criticized former Raja Athletic Club’s (RCA) coach and fellow tunisian Saad Chebbi, who reportedly said that Morocco outperforms Tunisia in many aspects such as infrastructure.
He called on Chebbi to apologize to the Tunisian fans, adding, “We must always put our Tunisian identity first.”
Benzarti is also a former coach of both RCA and Wydad Athletic Club (WAC), Morocco’s two iconic, Casablanca-based football clubs. He notably led RCA to many tournament wins and was received by King Mohammed VI upon his return from the final of the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup.
Speaking of his time in Morocco, he said, “I find myself being sorry not to have asked for anything important from King Mohammed VI in 2013, especially a request to match my son’s aviation certificate in America.”
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