International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has warned how FIFA must act "swiftly to regain credibility" amid a claim that their problems are "structural" in nature, requiring more changes than simply the election of a new President.

In what marks by far his strongest criticism yet concerning the problems engulfing football's world governing body, Bach told the organisation to take measures complying with themes of accountability, transparency and good governance prioritised in the IOC's own Agenda 2020 reform process.

This follows today's announcement that FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA counterpart Michel Platini have both been provisionally suspended for 90 days by the adjudictory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee, while former vice-president Chung Mong-joon has been banned for six years.

Dan Reed, head of global sports partnerships at Facebook, claimed here that social media companies such as his, as well as Instagram and Snapchat, are going to be “vital” for the future business models of sporting bodies and clubs.

Reed, who was speaking at the Leaders Sport Business Summit 2015, urged organisations to utilise the tools in order to tap into sports fans already using social media and stated that “Facebook has the biggest community of fans in the world”.

Talking to a packed room as part of a session titled “A Winning Combination: Technology Partnerships at the Highest Levels” Reed reflected on the relationships the company have with major sporting leagues around the world.

Sir Martin Sorrell, boss of advertising giant WPP, today wowed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) with the message that the need to engage with young people has "never been more urgent".

In a virtuoso keynote speech to start the day’s proceedings, Sir Martin complimented his audience on the "very bold step" of setting up an Olympic TV Channel, while urging them to be "brave", "determined" and "proud of delivering the future of the Olympic Movement through this new medium".

His long, pithy, almost academic masterclass on the state of global media and its implications for stakeholders in the sporting movement, triggered a spate of questions that carried the event far beyond its allotted time-span.

T&T’s senior men’s team will be looking to turn the result over to their favour when they face off with Panama in an international friendly at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez at 8.30 pm (9.30pm TT time) today.

Back in 2000, when both teams met at the CONCACAF semifinal round of World Cup qualification, T&T were easy 6–0 winners at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, with Dwight Yorke leading the way with a hat-trick.

Since then the two teams have met 11 times with T&T winning five, Panama four and two being drawn. But Panama have won four out of the last six outings, including the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal clash in June and a friendly in Couva in March.

TRINIDAD AND Tobago’s senior men’s team will be looking to turn the result over to their favour when they face off with Panama in an international friendly at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez at 8.30 pm today (9.30pm TT time).

Back in 2000 when both teams met at the CONCACAF semi-final round of World Cup qualification, TT were easy 6-0 winners at the Queen’s Park Oval, with Dwight Yorke leading the way with a hat-trick. Since then the two teams have met eleven times with TT winning five, Panama four and two being drawn.

MULTIPLE NATIONAL road cycling champion, Emile Abraham, caps off his distinguished 30-year career when he suits up in the red, white and black for one last hurrah at the Caribbean Road Cycling Championships in Barbados later this month.
The 41-year-old veteran endurance rider made public his decision to retire from all major international competition at the closing ceremony of the 29th Tobago International Cycling Classic (TICC) on Sunday.

Abraham is rated as Trinidad and Tobago’s most accomplished road cyclist having won over 30 National titles (senior and junior), UCI ‘B’ World Championships bronze (2003), Pan American silver (2007/ Road Race), TT Male Athlete of the Year (2007), Central American and Caribbean (CAC) silver (2010), Caribbean Road Cycling Championships silver (2013 and 2014), produced numerous top-three finishes at countless global Tour races and was ranked 33rd in the world in the Points Race among a lengthy list of other competitive accolades.

Speaking exclusively to Newsday prior to his apt announcement on Sunday, the Tobago bred cyclist opted to tell all on his astounding career, delving into the many highs and lows which ultimately built him into the athlete he is today. Looking back, Abraham is pleased but will ever so often reminisce and sometimes question decisions made and opportunities he was unable to capitalise on and benefit from.