By Durosimi Thomas BBC Sport, Tunis

Ismaili's coach Theo Bucker has accused Esperance of 'dirty tricks'

Tunisia's Esperance are denying claims from Egypt's Ismaili that they have employed underhand tactics by changing the kick-off time of their Champions League semi-final second leg on 15 November.

Ismaili say the Tunisians have changed the tie's kick-off from 21.30 local time to 14.00, and the Egyptians claim their opponents are trying to take advantage of their players fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.

The change means that the match will start during the Muslim fasting time, which ends at sunset.

However Esperance's communications officer Ali Saffi says that it is Caf who have changed the time.

"Ismaili can verify from Caf that we have nothing to do with the new kick-off time.

"Playing in the afternoon is a problem for our fasting players as well a theirs, I don't see the advantage for us," he said.

However the rumours are that the Tunisian players are ready to stop fasting for the day, while the Ismaili squad have confirmed they will stick to their abstinence from food and drink.

I wouldn't have expected such dirty tricks from Esperance Theo Bucker

Angry Bucker

But Ismaili's German Coach Theo Bucker is convinced that the Tunisians are too blame.

"This is unfair and I wouldn't have expected such dirty tricks from a big club like Esperance, but obviously they are desperate to win," a furious Bucker told the BBC website.

"They know that my players will refuse to break their fast, but they do not realize that this will only motivate my players even more."

The Ismaili players have already refused instructions from their German coach Bucker not to fast during the first leg in Egypt, which is what the Esperance players did.