Inter Milan in Ramadan row

Jose Mourinho has come under fire from a Muslim leader after claiming Inter Milan player Sulley Muntari should not have been fasting during Ramadan. The Inter Milan boss subbed Muntari after just half an hour of Sunday’s draw with Bari and later claimed that his lack of energy was down to his fasting.

Mourinho said: “Muntari had some problems related to Ramadan, perhaps with this heat it’s not good for him to be doing this (fasting). Ramadan has not arrived at the ideal moment for a player to play a football match.”Mourinho was on the receiving end of an attack from Mohamed Nour Dachan, president of the Union of Islamic communities and organisations in Italy.

Dachan said: “I think Mourinho could do with talking a little less,’ he said. ‘A practising (Muslim) player is not weakened because we know from the Institute of Sports Medicine that mental and psychological stability can give a sportsman an extra edge on the field.”