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Zurich: FIFA yesterday overturned Barcelona star Lionel Messi&rsquo;s four-game ban from international matches imposed for swearing at an assistant referee, saying there was not enough evidence to support the stiff punishment.
The U-turn is a major boost to Argentina&rsquo;s hopes of reaching next year&rsquo;s World Cup in Russia, with the South Americans struggling in regional qualifying. FIFA said its appeal committee sided with a challenge filed on Messi&rsquo;s behalf by the Argentine Football Association and lifted "the sanctions imposed on him as a result".
"Despite the fact that the FIFA Appeal Committee considered Lionel Messi&rsquo;s behaviour as reproachable" it concluded "the evidence available was not sufficient" to justify a four-game ban.
In March the striker was found guilty of "having directed insulting words at an assistant referee" in a World Cup qualifier against Chile which Argentina won 1-0 thanks to a penalty from the Barcelona hitman. Argentine football chief Armando Perez said that Messi "made a mistake", but argued that FIFA&rsquo;s sanction was disproportionate.

FIFA yesterday overturned Barcelona star Lionel Messi&rsquo;s four-game ban from international matches imposed for swearing at an assistant referee, saying there was not enough evidence to support the stiff punishment

FIFA overturns Lionel Messi's four-game international ban

Cristiano Ronaldo watched sexy weather girl Sol Perez live

FIFA yesterday overturned Barcelona star Lionel Messi&rsquo;s four-game ban from international matches imposed for swearing at an assistant referee, saying there was not enough evidence to support the stiff punishment

FIFA overturns Lionel Messi's four-game international ban

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FIFA overturns Lionel Messi's four-game international ban

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