Yorke ... missed Trinidad's match against the US last night

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC:

FIFA VICE-president Jack Warner has delivered a caustic attack on Sunderland's manager, Roy Keane, for refusing to allow Trinidad and Tobago's Dwight Yorke to represent his country in a World Cup qualifier this week.

Yorke, the 36-year-old captain of T&T's Soca Warriors, was summoned by Keane to return to England for club duties this past weekend and missed the country's important CONCACAF World Cup qualifier against the United States last night.

'Small' country

Warner, special adviser to the T&T Football Federation (TTFF), accused Keane in a letter yesterday of disrespect for the 'small' Caribbean country and the FIFA guidelines that command clubs to release players for national duty.

"Your callous disregard for the rights of 'small' countries to have their players represent them as enshrined in FIFA regulations reveals a mean streak in your character and one which will not endear you or Sunderland to football aficionados of such countries," Warner stated.

"It is a dangerous path to tread," he said.

Yorke appeared for Trinidad and Tobago in their 1-1 home draw with Guatemala on Saturday in Port-of-Spain, but did not travel to the US with the rest of the team on Sunday after being summoned - in a text message - by Keane to return to England.

"Your continuing insensitivity and disrespect for countries such as the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago are hereby noted. Such insensitivity and disrespect were again most recently displayed by your having summoned Mr Dwight Yorke to return to England last weekend, thus rendering him unavailable to represent the country of his birth in a crucial World Cup qualifying preliminary vs USA tomorrow," Warner stated in his letter.

Warner, whose international influence brought FIFA president Sepp Blatter, former FIFA boss Joao Havelange, and other FIFA dignitaries - including European football (UEFA) president Michel Platini - to Port-of-Spain for the TTFF's Centennial celebrations last weekend, also warned Keane about his stance.

Passive

He said the TTFF would not fight this latest case but cautioned that its passive position should not be taken lightly.

"The Trinidad and Tobago Federation will, in this instance, neither insist on, nor pursue its right to have you and Sunderland make Mr Yorke available to represent his country, but such refusal or reluctance on its part ought not to be interpreted as a sign of weakness by the federation," Warner said.

Keane, 37, a former Manchester United teammate of Yorke, became Sunderland's manager in 2006 after retiring from competitive football.

Warner