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 18:25 2016 Wednesday ,16 March
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation hails co-operation and partnership ties with EU
GMT 10:04 2019 Monday ,19 August
Live a tense and noisy atmosphere
GMT 08:45 2017 Saturday ,15 April
Foreign Minister Receives WTO Delegation
GMT 17:56 2018 Sunday ,25 November
Amman stock market wraps up trading at JD2.6 million
GMT 08:14 2017 Saturday ,12 August
Belgium's giant omelette festival aims
GMT 13:42 2017 Sunday ,17 December
26 dead from landslides after Philippine storm
GMT 05:32 2017 Saturday ,29 April
Al Faisaliah voted ‘Best Business Hotel in Riyadh’
GMT 15:53 2016 Sunday ,22 May
PEX Report: Index Down at start of week trading
GMT 16:59 2017 Wednesday ,22 March
UAE v Japan: Mahdi Ali has selection headaches ahead of 2018 World Cup qualifier
GMT 12:39 2015 Sunday ,18 October
Surgery made me feel connected to other women
GMT 12:56 2017 Thursday ,23 November
UAE Inaugurates Digital Archaeology Exhibition
GMT 07:27 2019 Tuesday ,20 August
Think of a new strategy and give you a variety of possibilities
GMT 18:56 2014 Tuesday ,15 April
Gambia bans flights from Ebola-hit nations
GMT 04:03 2017 Tuesday ,09 May
’Baahubali 2’ becomes India’s highest-grossing movie
GMT 08:35 2018 Saturday ,20 January
Amazon's indigenous people 'never so threatened': pope
GMT 09:09 2017 Thursday ,21 September
Kagawa leads Dortmund 'fire engine' back
GMT 13:18 2013 Saturday ,13 July
Surya Brasil launches treatments for dyed and damaged hair
GMT 09:22 2017 Sunday ,05 March
UAE insurance snag for electric vehicles over repairs
GMT 13:20 2017 Monday ,14 August
53 ships transit Suez Canal
GMT 22:46 2016 Sunday ,10 April
Strong earthquake hits Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, casualty not reported yet
GMT 14:47 2018 Monday ,19 November
Terrorists’ infiltration attempts towards military posts in Hama Countryside foiled
GMT 11:05 2018 Sunday ,28 October
US builds up arsenals in Europe to deter Russia
GMT 12:50 2018 Wednesday ,19 September
Huawei sees over 100% growth in UAE smartphone sales
GMT 09:43 2017 Saturday ,08 July
Abbas offers condolences to Sisi over victims of Rafah terror attack
GMT 21:06 2017 Wednesday ,26 July
German army helicopter crashes in Mali
GMT 18:26 2017 Wednesday ,08 February
Shoukry due in Jordan to convey Sisi's message to monarch
GMT 04:15 2017 Monday ,08 May
Mercenaries killed in Jawf
GMT 12:31 2015 Sunday ,18 January
INU, the smart, high-end electric scooter
GMT 11:46 2017 Wednesday ,01 March
NBAD given green light to expand euro note programme
GMT 18:30 2016 Tuesday ,06 December
Hilton Worldwide introduces Laureate Jeddah College students to hospitality careers
GMT 14:14 2016 Friday ,23 December
Russia loses sporting events as federations act
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor