Donald Trump has been accused of "hypocrisy” for his tributes to Muhammad Al, as Democrat rival Bemie Sanders criticised those who praise the boxing legend while being "prejudiced against Muslims in this country".

After publically calling for all Muslims to be banned from entering the US, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate sparked a political row by tweeting: "Muhammad Ali is dead at 74! A truly great champion and a wonderful guy. He will be missed by all!"

Trump and Ali had a relationship going back at least 35 years, with Ali attending the businessman's second wedding in 2005.But last year, Ali issued a statement entitled "Presidential Candidates Proposing to Ban Muslim Immigration to the United States",

in which he said: "We as Muslims have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda."

Asked about the statement on Saturday, Trump said he did not “believe that was about me". "He never mentioned the name or anything like that," he said, adding that if it were about him, Ali "would have mentioned the name".

Sanders, who still entertains hopes of being the presidential rival opposite Trump, explicitly called out those who praise Ali while condemning Muslims.

He said in an LA press

conference: "I've been all over this country and I'm talking to Muslim people who say, 'You know, Bernie, our kids are now afraid.' ... Don't tell me how much you love Muhammad Ali and yet you're going to be prejudiced against Muslims in this country."