By Farayi Mungazi

Football fans were barred from Kenya's game against Tunisia

The civil war in Kenyan football escalated on Wednesday after the Fifa-recognised chairman of the country's football federation accused the government of behaving irresponsibly.

Alfred Sambu's outburst follows stunning allegations by controversial Sports Minister, Ochillo Ayacko, that the Harambee Stars threw away their two World Cup qualifiers against Tunisia.

In a move likely to raise more questions than answers, Ayacko accused his own country's national team of deliberately losing to the North Africans: 1-0 in the first match in Tunis, and 2-0 in the return fixture played behind closed doors last Saturday.

Tunisia could have been thrown out of their hotel had Fifa not saved us Alfred Sambu Chairman - Kenya Football Federation

Ayacko, who has also clashed with cricket authorities in the East African country, told a news conference that he had written to Kenya's Attorney General stating the reasons why the two matches in question were fixed.

But an enraged Sambu hit back on Wednesday, telling BBC Sport from his hospital bed that the sports minister's match-fixing allegations were unfortunate.

Sambu fumed "The government behaved in a most irresponsible manner. They knew that fans had been stopped from attending the match but made sure we had no money to cover our expenses.

"Although I was suffering in hospital, I rang [Fifa] in Zurich and told them of our problems. Tunisia could have been thrown out of their hotel had Fifa not saved us.''

Sambu has now threatened legal action unless "Ayacko provides documentary evidence to substantiate his allegations."

He said Tunisia might do the same as their reputation had also been tarnished by the minister's allegations.