Lionel Messi Has 4-Match Argentina Ban Rescinded After FIFA Appeal

Lionel Messi's four-match international ban for insulting a match official has been lifted by FIFA after a successful appeal by the Argentinian Football Association.

The Barcelona superstar was handed the suspension in March after he was found to have verbally abused an assistant referee during Argentina's FIFA World Cup qualifier with Chile, per ESPN FC.

However, the FIFA Appeal Committee has now overturned the decision on appeal after concluding "the evidence available was not sufficient to establish to the appropriate standard," per FIFA.

Messi had already served one match of the four-game ban.

He missed out as Argentina lost 2-0 to Bolivia at the end of March, a result that left them still struggling in CONMEBOL qualifying for Russia 2018—they lie in the fifth-placed play-off position, outside the top four automatic spots.

The Associated Press' Rob Harris suggested, as a result of having served a game-ban in error, he may be reprieved in the future:

Given Messi is Argentina's most valuable player and was sorely missed in the defeat to Bolivia, it will be a huge relief to the Albiceleste that his ban has been lifted, per Squawka:

The 29-year-old maestro had been set to miss key qualifiers against Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru, only returning for Argentina's final group match against Ecuador, when qualification could have been impossible.

However, Messi will now be available for the vital run-in, giving Argentina's qualification chances a huge boost.