Irish News: UEFA and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have confirmed that no disciplinary action will be taken against Mark Kinsella following last Saturday's Euro 2004 qualifier in Basel, when the Republic of Ireland midfielder was photographed throwing a plastic bottle from the bench at Switzerland's Alexander Frei.
"We have received both the referee's and the UEFA delegate's report from that match and there is no mention in either report of the incident," a UEFA spokesman said yesterday. So, that is the end of the matter? "Yes," he confirmed.
The photograph, published in Monday's Irish Times, showed Kinsella, at that stage an unused substitute, throwing the bottle at Frei as he taunted Irish players and officials sitting on the bench following his goal, Switzerland's second.
European football's governing body had been awaiting the reports from the match before deciding on what action, if any, would be taken against Kinsella. Now, it would seem, the matter is closed, not least because there was no video evidence of the incident.
Aston Villa's official website reported the incident yesterday, but added that "the Villa midfielder is unlikely to pick up a ban after suggesting he is ready to retire from international football".
The FAI, though, insisted Kinsella has given no indication that he is contemplating retirement.
Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr, meanwhile, has promised to assist Wales' preparations for their European Championship play-off games against Russia, one of Ireland's group opponents, in Moscow and Cardiff next month.
"I will be happy to help Mark (Hughes) in every way I can by giving him a dossier on the Russian players and videos of their games in qualifying campaign," said Kerr.
"It would be great if Wales could reach the Euro finals in Portugal next summer. It won't be easy against Russia, they are very strong at home, but if Wales can get a decent result in the first leg in Moscow, then they have every chance of reaching the finals.
"I hope it comes true for the Welsh and, if asked, we will do our best to help them."
One of Kerr's bronze medal winners from the World Youth Cup in 1997, left-back Robbie Ryan, is looking for a new club after being told by Millwall that he will not be offered a new contract at the end of the season.
Ryan (27), who moved from Belvedere to English football with Huddersfield in 1994, and caught Mick McCarthy's eye in his final months as Irish manager when he was on the fringes of the senior squad, was one of the few players from that 1997 group to establish themselves as first team players with their clubs.
