Fifa lifts Messi four-game
Lionel Messi
Abu Dhabi - Arab Today
Fifa on Friday overturned Barcelona star Lionel Messi'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's hopes of reaching next year'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'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'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 conceded that Messi "made a mistake", but argued that Fifa's sanction was disproportionate.
- Sunday ,21 October GMT 06:54 2018 Messi breaks arm in Barcelona win, Lopetegui under fire as Madrid lose
GMT 16:18 2018 Tuesday ,04 December
Germany's Dressen undergoes knee surgeryGMT 09:41 2018 Tuesday ,04 December
Leverkusen frustrated in sodden NurembergGMT 07:31 2018 Friday ,09 November
Arsenal striker Welbeck suffers serious ankle injuryGMT 12:45 2018 Friday ,02 November
Usain Bolt leaves Australian football club after trialGMT 13:05 2018 Wednesday ,31 October
Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago out with ligament tearGMT 14:58 2018 Tuesday ,23 October
Second-tier SV Hamburg sack coach Titz, appoint WolfGMT 06:54 2018 Sunday ,21 October
Messi breaks arm in Barcelona win, Lopetegui under fire as Madrid loseGMT 13:11 2018 Thursday ,18 October
Halep withdraws from WTA Finals with back injuryRussia tests new telemetry system during manned Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft’s launch
Moscow - TASS
The Astra-06 apparatus developed by specialists of Russian Space Systems (RSS) was used for the first time as additional telemetric equipment aboard the manned Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft launc...Read More
GMT 10:08 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
US Senate confirms Jerome Powell as next Fed chairman
GMT 07:32 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
Oil spill disasters in the past 50 yearsGMT 14:45 2011 Friday ,30 September
Plutonium \'detected outside Fukushima plant\'GMT 06:38 2011 Friday ,03 June
Cyber attacks constant
GMT 09:06 2024 Thursday ,08 February
Meghan presents fashion award to wedding dress designer Waight Keller
GMT 22:48 2018 Thursday ,13 December
French archaeological mission discovers artefacts in Umm Al Qaiwain
GMT 07:58 2018 Thursday ,25 October
Cathay Pacific data breach affects 9.4 million passengers
GMT 08:46 2018 Wednesday ,12 September
Arab foreign ministers conclude 150th meeting at the Arab League’s Secretariat
GMT 13:56 2018 Tuesday ,04 September
HRH Premier's keenness to promote social ties hailed
GMT 17:29 2013 Tuesday ,02 July
HEC pays an inspection visit to Ahlia University
GMT 18:50 2016 Monday ,04 April
United States seizes thousands of Iranian weapons, including grenade launchers, in Arabian Sea
GMT 06:38 2017 Monday ,10 April
Prime Minister Participates in Meetings of Interior Ministers' Council
GMT 10:35 2017 Thursday ,10 August
Victory Team ready for UIM F1H2O World Championship
GMT 11:38 2017 Thursday ,10 August
Fujairah Crown Prince opens Jiu Jitsu ChampionshipGMT 13:46 2011 Thursday ,16 June
Flavoured milk off the menu in schools
GMT 21:07 2017 Thursday ,04 May
Afghan president calls upon Taliban to join peace process
GMT 16:01 2014 Monday ,06 January
Hilton continues growth in UAEGMT 14:44 2011 Sunday ,12 June
Hundreds of schools face blacklistingGMT 09:16 2011 Friday ,15 July
Google going social as profit soarsGMT 11:49 2011 Thursday ,13 October
Abou-Treika joins Ahly trainings for Haras clash
GMT 08:57 2015 Friday ,12 June
Trio share St Jude lead
GMT 13:09 2016 Wednesday ,07 September
Bosch 'helped conceal' Volkswagen's emissions cheating devicesGMT 00:48 2011 Sunday ,08 May
West Ham rooted to bottom of PremiershipGMT 23:09 2011 Tuesday ,10 May
De Jong backs Man City to beat SpursGMT 06:53 2011 Saturday ,21 May
UN Chief to visit Nigeria next week
GMT 11:57 2017 Monday ,27 February
Meet Malaysia's first family of skiing
GMT 11:31 2012 Monday ,15 October
Chadli Bendjedid.. The era where change stopped in Algeria
GMT 10:07 2017 Thursday ,10 August
Portuguese media delegation praises activities of Dubai Sports World
GMT 19:04 2017 Saturday ,25 March
Malaysia's February CPI Up 4.5 Per Cent
GMT 14:16 2013 Sunday ,30 June
Top advice on making him careGMT 09:52 2013 Friday ,19 April
Actress shaves her locks for cancer-patient role
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor