Yorke featured in his country's World Cup qualifier with Guatemala at the weekend, but Warner claims the Black Cats withdrew the veteran midfielders from tonight's clash with the USA in Chicago.

The 36-year-old told the Echo last week that he was "totally in control" of his involvement with T&T and would only play when it did not impinge on his job at Sunderland.

But in a letter leaked to the Echo today, FIFA chief Warner – a special advisor to the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation – claimed Keane was threatening the relationship between club and country.

Sunderland are furious Warner's private letter – on FIFA headed paper – to Keane has been leaked to the Echo.

In it, Warner said: "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 England last weekend, thus rendering him unavailable (to face the USA).

"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 afficianados of such countries. It is a dangerous path to tread.

"The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation will, in this instance, at least, neither insist 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."

This is not the first time Sunderland and T&T have clashed over players selected for internationals.

Last season, Black Cats Kenwyne Jones and Carlos Edwards were pulled from the T&T squad to face Jamaica in March due to illness and injury and the Soca Warriors threatened to use the seven-day rule, which would have blocked them from playing in Sunderland's subsequent game against West Ham.

Sunderland decided today not to get involved in a public slanging match over the details behind Yorke not appearing against the USA.

But a statement from the club said: "We are very disappointed that the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation felt it necessary to distribute a copy of private correspondence to the media. This issue is a matter for private discussion between SAFC, Dwight Yorke and T&TFF."

* Sunderland have sold all 5,000 of their tickets for Saturday's visit to Wigan. Fans without tickets are asked not to travel.