FOOTBALL DIGEST

THE Republic of Ireland have been charged by UEFA after tennis balls were thrown on to the pitch during the Euro 2020 qualifier with Georgia. Fans protested against former FAI chief executive John Delaney. SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY’S Fernando Forestieri, 29, has been found not guilty of racially abusing Mansfield defender Krystian Pearce during a July pre-season friendly before a mass brawl. MARCO SILVA refused to criticise Colombia boss Carlos Queiroz after defender Yerry Mina sustained a ‘serious’ hamstring injury while playing against Everton’s advice. Mina was injured in Colombia’s 2-1 friendly defeat by South Korea on Tuesday, having also featured in Friday’s 1-0 win over Japan. Silva said: ‘It was always a risk for him to play two games in a short period.’