Dear Mr Keane,
The disrespectful tone of your reported comments in the press further demonstrates the total disrespect that you and others of your ilk have generally for players and officials from "small" countries. It is obviously difficult for you to accept the fact that someone from a "small" country could rise to become a Vice President of FIFA.
I chose to respond on a FIFA letter-head because that is a privilege afforded me owing to my said status and the fact that your callousness showed utter disregard for FIFA's regulations re the release of players for international duty. regrettably, but not surprisingly, you did not grasp the message.
Your reference to the injury sustained by Kenwyne Jones during an International Friendly between Trinidad and Tobago and England bears no relevance to the matter in question as, contrary to what you would have others believe, we have been monitoring his progress and I have even extended to him, through his Agent, Mike Berry, on more than one occasion my words of comfort and continuing concern.
In closing may I remind you that a player's greatest honour is to represent his country in spite of the fact that you chose to walk away from yours during the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup after publicly abusing your Manager.............an indictment that you will no doubt be proud of up to today. Poor Sunderland ! ! !
Yours sincerely
JACK AUSTIN WARNER 100 YEARS FIFA 1904‐2004
FIFA Vice President
September 12, 2008
Related News
Furious Roy Keane hits back in Dwight Yorke row
By George Caulkin (Timesonline)
There was no rant, no histrionics, but a precise and deliberate character assassination. Despite his reputation as a player - quick to tackle, slow to forget - Roy Keane has more ice in his veins than fire, but those who cross him should not expect tolerance.
Yesterday his wrath fell on Jack Warner, the Fifa vice-president, or, in Keane's words, a “clown” and a “disgrace”. Warner, a special adviser to the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation, wrote to Keane this week on Fifa-headed paper, protesting about the Sunderland manager's decision to withdraw Dwight Yorke from the World Cup qualifying match against the United States. The letter included phrases such as “callous disregard” and “a mean streak in your character”.
In Keane's defence, Yorke, who will turn 37 in November, has not played for Sunderland since suffering a fractured cheekbone in a pre-season friendly, yet he was permitted to report for duty with Trinidad this month and captained his country in the 1-1 draw with Guatemala on Saturday.
Yorke had announced his international retirement in 2007 but returned as a guest - at Warner's request - for the friendly against England in June. In that match Kenwyne Jones, the Sunderland striker, damaged knee ligaments and is out until next month. Yorke subsequently made himself available for the World Cup campaign.
The dispute has led Keane to regret awarding Yorke, his former Manchester United team-mate, a new one-season contract and, for the first time since his move to the dugout, to make withering criticism of one of his players. “I'm blaming Yorkie,” Keane said. “He's a clown as well. He's supposed to be retired. But he's on an ego trip. I wouldn't have given him a contract.”
Keane's dissatisfaction was largely reserved for Warner, a man the FA has been courting as it seeks to host the 2018 World Cup finals. “The man is a clown,” Keane said. “I spoke to him on Wednesday and told him what I thought of him and where I think he should go. He's writing these letters and it's under Fifa's heading just to impress everybody.
“Not once has he written me a letter about Kenwyne, who got injured playing in a friendly match for Trinidad. They even selected Carlos Edwards last season when he was out with a broken leg. I've always given support to players going on international duty, 100 per cent. It's just ridiculous that this clown is writing letters through the media.
“They don't insure their players, so we're footing a massive medical bill for Kenwyne. There has to be give and take. The word ‘clown' just suits him. I just told him he's a disgrace.”
Keane's broadside prompted another letter from Warner. “I chose to respond on a Fifa letter-head because your callousness showed utter disregard for Fifa's regulations,” he wrote. “May I remind you that a player's greatest honour is to represent his country, in spite of the fact that you chose to walk away from yours during the 2002 World Cup. Poor Sunderland.”
Keane: Warner's a clown
By: Graeme Anderson (Sunderland Echo)
Roy Keane today labelled Fifa vice-president Jack Warner a "clown".
The Sunderland manager was responding to criticism from Warner about the club's treatment of Dwight Yorke.
Yorke was recalled home after playing one game for Trinidad and Tobago during the international break and Warner accused him of having a 'mean streak'.
Keane, though, reacted contentiously to the criticism.
He told the Echo: "I have seen what has been said and I am disappointed but not surprised that he has chosen to make his criticisms through the media.
"You've got to bear in mind that Dwight is supposed to have retired from international football about five times now and has yet to play a first team game for us after suffering a stress fracture of his cheek.
"To play two games inside a week was always going to be too much for him and Trinidad and Tobago were aware of that.
"I spoke to Jack Warner about the situation but I'm not surprised at what has been said by him.
"The man is a clown.
"I think he's a disgrace to go through the media the way he has.
"He doesn't really care about the players in the way he claims.
"He said he does but he doesn't.