( CNN ) -- Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho is under fire from a Muslim leader in Italy after his criticism of Sulley Muntari for fasting during Ramadan . Mourinho was unhappy with the performance of Muntari and his team on Sunday . Ghana midfielder Muntari was taken off after just half an hour of Inter 's disappointing 1-1 home draw against Bari as they began their defense of the Serie A title on Sunday . Mourinho pulled no punches in the post match press conference when he implied that the former Portsmouth star had played poorly because he lacked energy due to his fast . `` Muntari had some problems related to Ramadan , perhaps with this heat it 's not good for him to be doing this , `` Mourinho told reporters . `` Ramadan has not arrived at the ideal moment for a player to play a football match . '' The former Chelsea manager , who is renowned for his outspoken comments , even suggested that Muntari would be dropped for this weekend 's derby match against city rivals AC Milan . But his comments were seized on by Mohamed Nour Dachan , president of the union of Islamic communities in Italy . `` I think Mourinho could do with talking a little less , '' he told SKY TV . Dachan said that Muntari would gain mental strength from his Muslim beliefs to help him overcome the handicaps of fasting during daylight hours . `` A player who is a believing Christian , Jew or Muslim is certainly calmer pyschologically and that improves his performance , '' he claimed . Whether Mourinho carries out his threat to drop Muntari is open to questions because Sunday 's match in the San Siro kicks off after sundown in Italy , leaving the player some time to rehydrate . Meanwhile , the Egyptian team preparing for the under-20 World Cup in their home country have turned down the chance to break their fast . The country 's religious authorities gave the squad members permission to avoid fasting during Ramadan , but the team ignored the instruction . The competition starts just a few days after the end of Ramadan , but the team is in strict training in a bid to claim the prestigious title .
Jose Mourinho in hot water over remarks about midfielder Sulley Muntari . Inter boss claimed Muntari 's fasting for Ramadan had affected his play . Muslim leader in Italy says Mourinho 's comments are ill-informed .