PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) - The Trinidad and Tobago soccer federation has suspended all of its national team programs except its under-17 side due to a funding squabble with the government, threatening the Soca Warriors' participation in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Richard Groden, secretary general of the Trinidad federation, said Tuesday that the Trinidad government has failed to live up to promises made by Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Roger Boynes last year to provide funding to the federation, which Groden said had largely been supplied by CONCACAF president and former federation president Jack Warner.

"We can't continue like this. We have been promised time and again that the matter will be looked into and things have not changed for the better," Groden said.

The announcement comes on the same day CONCACAF released its schedule for the Gold Cup, placing Trinidad in Group B alongside the defending champion United States, Guatemala and El Salvador.

CONCACAF deputy secretary general Ted Howard said Tuesday that the confederation was aware of a problem between Trinidad federation and the government but said it has not been told the country's participation in the June 6-24 Gold Cup was in jeopardy.

Groden said his federation was suspending all programs other than the under-17 side, steering all funding for the youth side as it continued preparations for the final round of qualifying for the U-17 World Cup in Jamaica April 28-May 6.

"No one likes to do anything that is detrimental to sport, but we have found ourselves in a difficult position, and can't continue like this," Groden said.

Ministry of Sport spokesman Richard LeVeau said Tuesday he had been unaware of the TTFF's decision and was investigating.

"The government's position has always been one of caution when dealing with public funds, and was only prepared to disburse such when certain strict measures were met," he said.

The salaries of the national team coaching staff, including Soca Warriors manager Wim Rijsbergen, are nearly US$100,000 a month, Groden said.

The problem already has caused Trinidad to withdraw from a scheduled friendly against Chile later this month, Groden said.

Trinidad federation president Oliver Camps informed acting Minister of Sport Joan Yuille-Williams at the end of February that the coaching staff was contemplating returning to their native countries until the issue is resolved. (March 6, 2007)