[midknight]

Sunderland pull T&T captain from USA match.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express).

YORKE RECALLED

The Trinidad and Tobago national football team's preparations for Wednesday's 2010 World Cup qualifier away to the United States were thrown into disarray yesterday when coach Francisco Maturana was denied the use of newly installed team captain Dwight Yorke as well as left back Avery John and promising teenaged midfielder Khaleem Hyland.

John, a 2006 World Cup player, is suspended for collecting yellow cards in successive matches while Hyland's automatic one match suspension for violent conduct against Cuba was extended to two games. But Maturana might be particularly aggrieved by the departure of Yorke, just days after adding him to the team's South Africa campaign.

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) claimed that the combination of a thigh and ankle injury ruled Yorke out of their September 10 engagement against the group leaders. However, Yorke admitted to the Express on Saturday night, that Sunderland ordered his return to England.

Sunderland manager Roy Keane, who played alongside Yorke at Manchester United, warned the Tobagonian in July that his international aspirations could jeopardize his future with the club. However, the pair decided that Yorke may be allowed to join the "Soca Warriors" if he did not figure in Sunderland's first team plans.

Yorke, who was unavailable for the start of the season through injury, is yet to wear Sunderland colours this term while Keane-whose 30-member squad is the most populous in the Premiership-has used four different players in the two central midfield roles that the 36-year-old Warrior could fill.

But, even before Yorke wore the armband on Saturday, Keane is believed to have phoned and said that he was in the frame to play against Wigan on September 13. The Irish coach does not feel the veteran can be at his best with three matches in eight days and issued an ultimatum.

Yorke insisted, on Saturday, that he wants to represent his country but was unwilling to fight with Sunderland on the matter. Although FIFA law insists that Sunderland make their players available for World Cup duty, Keane made it clear that he wanted Yorke to stick to his international retirement when he gave him a one-year deal in the summer. Sunderland also offered to look after Yorke's future by promising him a coaching job at the end of his playing career.

"I am feeling caught between a rock and a hard place with my club and my country," Yorke said on Saturday. "I want to play against the US but I don't know if I will be allowed to."

Yorke, who teed up Keon Daniel for Trinidad and Tobago's lone goal against Guatemala, said he felt physically capable of playing on Wednesday.

"I was 90 per cent fit (against Guatemala)," he said. "I have been dealing with a thigh strain but I am still fit enough to play for my country. I feel fine."

It is unlikely that FIFA vice-president and T&TFF special advisor Jack Warner will take action against Sunderland considering the possible ramifications to the country's most celebrated player. It is not immediately clear whether Yorke would be allowed to represent his country again in the World Cup campaign and if all future appearances depend on Keane's say-so.

There were issues with Carlos Edwards and Kenwyne Jones earlier on in the year as well. How does he handle the other international players?

[MidnightMackemRider]

Like all premier league managers, club before country. Sunderland is paying your check. He likes his players to be on international teams (criticised Irish National Team Manager for not calling up Liam Miller last year) but is not afraid to tell a player he needs to miss a game. The main issue with Jones was that no one wanted him getting injured, but David James came along.

[Warlord]

Originally Posted by MidnightMackemRider

Like all premier league managers, club before country. Sunderland is paying your check. He likes his players to be on international teams (criticised Irish National Team Manager for not calling up Liam Miller last year) but is not afraid to tell a player he needs to miss a game. The main issue with Jones was that no one wanted him getting injured, but David James came along.

The problem here is that a player should be allowed to play for his country. These arent friendly internationals, these are qualifiers so therefore I dont get why Keane would act that way especially since Yorke hasnt even featured so far this season for Sunderland's first team.

[midknight]

Now that I think of it, old Keano didn't have the most illustrious record when it comes to representing his country either...

http://www.planetworldcup.com/GUESTS/paul20020602.html

[MidnightMackemRider]

From SAFC.com

"Skipper Dean Whitehead is set to miss Sunderland's game at Wigan on Saturday."

That's why Yorke was asked to come back to England.

Doesn't make T&T fans happy, but for the club its a legitimate reason to ask a player who had already retired from international football. Yorke won't have too many opportunities for first team football this season.

[John K]

Furious Sunderland boss Roy Keane has branded FIFA vice-president Jack Warner "a clown" in a war of words over Dwight Yorke.

Warner accused Keane earlier this week of "insensitivity and disrespect" in a letter leaked to the media after he alleged Yorke had been withdrawn from the Trinidad and Tobago squad for the midweek clash with the United States by his club.

And Keane revealed he had contacted the special advisor to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation to let him know exactly what he thinks of him.

The Irishman said: "The man's a clown. He sent me a letter and he was quite happy to give it to the media.

"I spoke to him on Wednesday and I told him what I thought about him and where I think he should go.

"He is writing these letters and it is always under the FIFA heading just to impress everybody.

"If he is vice-president of FIFA, then God help us.

"He has not written me a letter about Kenwyne Jones, who got injured playing in a friendly match. They selected Carlos Edwards last year when he was out with a broken leg.

"Yorkie keeps making these cameo guest appearances for them, so maybe they have got some sort of deal going on themselves, I don't know.

"The man is a clown."

Yorke, 36, came out of international retirement to make a cameo appearance in the friendly against England in June in which Jones suffered knee ligament damage.

He has since had a re-think, but having been handed another year's contract at the Stadium of Light he had promised the club he would only play for his country if it did not interfere with his domestic commitments.

Yorke captained Trinidad and Tobago in the 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with Guatemala on Saturday but did not feature in Wednesday's 3-0 defeat in Chicago.

http://www.football365.com/story/0,1...134328,00.html

[Nimbus2000]

Originally Posted by John K

http://www.football365.com/story/0,1...134328,00.html

I've never liked Roy Keane but at the moment he does have a certain appeal. He's saying what many of other people in soccer have thought about Jack Warner for a long time...

[sendorange]

Yorke was only given another contract on the understanding he would put Sunderland first. So there is no issue. If T+T want him so badly, they should have given him a contract instead.

[bigINTERNETTOUGHGUY]

Originally Posted by Nimbus2000

I've never liked Roy Keane but at the moment he does have a certain appeal. He's saying what many of other people in soccer have thought about Jack Warner for a long time...

I've never been a fan of Keane wither, but he's 100% right about this. The player is injured and retired, but Jack Warner wants to force him to play for his country. Moreover, he's bringing the press into the dirty affairs.

To make matters worse, Warner escalated things by bringing up World Cup 2002 (when Keane left the national team). Of course, he neglected to mention that he and his family personally profited from a scalping plot to the tune of $1million+. Oops.

[J'can]

I posted this on the United forum..........


Keane as much as I love him does deserve to take stick for walking out on his country at the World Cup. Fair enough say what you want I think he is man enough to take it.

But this has nothing to do with Keane and his country. What is this crap about writing an open letter to Keane and giving it to the meida. Warner is trying to start trouble. See is is two steps short of being a politician and as any good politicain they try to win thoruhg the media.

I also have an issue with using Fifa letterhead to send his letter becasue "because that is a privilege afforded me owing to my said status" If this is a FIFA issue then stop making it personal. He is abusing his position. Not that the rest of the muppets care enough to discipline him anyway.


http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showt...635203&page=10