FIFA'S Director of Communications Keith Cooper is appealing to the 200-plus players participating in the ninth FIFA Under-17 World Soccer Championships to respect fairplay during the event.
The tournament kicks off today at the Hasely Crawford Stadium with Trinidad and Tobago, aka Team 2001 and young Soca Warriors, playing Croatia from 1 pm.
"Even though they are young, we are still appealing to them to respect fairplay during the tournament," Cooper urged the 16 countries that will take part.
Before the start of the TT/Croatia match, the FIFA man said, there will be a minute's silence as a mark of respect for what transpired in the United States on Tuesday.
Cooper said that a similar procedure will be adopted during tomorrow's game between the USA and Japan, to be kicked off from 5 pm at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, in Bacolet, Tobago.
All flags will be flown at half mask on the initial day of games at each of the five stadiums, in Tobago, Port-of-Spain, Malabar, Couva and Marabella.
Cooper said FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter has delayed his trip to the tournament because of the tragedy in the United States.
"His trip has been postponed until the situation becomes a bit clearer," Cooper said. He added that all the other FIFA's officers arrived before the tragedy.
Blatter was due yesterday and was expected to pay a visit to injured Under-20 captain Marvin Lee at 8.15 am today.
This was to be followed by visits to Port-of-Spain Mayor Murchison Brown at City Hall, and courtesy calls on His Excellency President Arthur NR Robinson and Prime Minister Basdeo Panday.