Football Briefs: Sanchez in Chile squad for World Cup qualifiers

News of all that's transpired on and off the football field

Chile have included Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez in their squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Bolivia, coach Juan Antonio Pizzi said on Thursday.

Sanchez has yet to play for his English Premier League club Arsenal this season after straining an abdominal muscle.

He missed the Community Shield victory over Chelsea in the season curtain-raiser plus the league opener with LeicesterCity and is expected to be out of Saturday's trip to StokeCity.

Sanchez was one of 19 overseas players named in Pizzi's squad, which will be boosted by home-based players.

Earlier on Thursday, Sanchez was named as one of the 24 players in contention for the Best FIFA Men's Player award along with Chile team mate Arturo Vidal.

Chile host Paraguay on Aug. 31 and face Bolivia in La Paz five days later. They are fourth in the standings for the South American qualifying spots for the 2018 tournament in Russia, one point ahead of Argentina and two clear of Ecuador.

The top four qualify automatically for the finals, while the fifth-placed side go into a playoff with a team from Oceania.

Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (ManchesterCity).

Defenders: Mauricio Isla (Fenerbahce), Enzo Roco (Cruz Azul), Eugenio Mena (Sport Recife), Paulo Diaz (San Lorenzo), Gary Medel (Besiktas), Osvaldo Gonzalez (Toluca).

Midfielders: Francisco Silva (Cruz Azul), Charles Aranguiz (Bayer Leverkusen), Felipe Gutierrez (Internacional), Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich), Pedro Pablo Hernandez (Celta de Vigo), Marcelo Diaz (Celta de Vigo), Leonardo Valencia (Botafogo).

Forwards: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Eduardo Vargas (Tigres), Nicolas Castillo (Pumas UNAM), Edson Puch (Pachuca), Fabian Orellana (Valencia)

UEFA fine three teams for fan trouble

Legia Warsaw, Apollon Limassol and Aberdeen have all been fined following crowd trouble this month, UEFA announced on Friday.

The Polish club faced the heaviest penalty, a fine of 35,000 euros ($41,100) for "an illicit banner" and having stairways blocked at their Champions League qualification tie at home to Astana on Aug. 2.

Following a crowd disturbance a day later at the Europa League game between Apollon and Aberdeen, the Cypriot club were fined 27,500 euros after fans set off fireworks and threw objects onto the pitch and for the behaviour of their players.

Aberdeen were fined 10,000 euros for crowd trouble and having no stewards travelling with their fans.

Hajduk Split and Everton are waiting for the UEFA observer's report into their Europa League tie on Thursday after television coverage showed visiting Croatian supporters surging towards home fans and causing a delay of four minutes.