Argentina soccer superstar, Lionel Messi, has won his appeal of the four-match international suspension he received in late March for directing “insulting words at an assistant referee” during a World Cup qualifier against Chile, meaning he will be able to play in three crucial qualifiers for an Argentina team that is in precarious position as it tries to secure a berth in the 2018 World Cup.
“The FIFA Appeal Committee has upheld the appeal lodged by the Argentinian Football Association, on behalf of the player Lionel Messi, against the decision taken by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, lifting the sanctions imposed on him as a result,” FIFA said in a statement.
“The Appeal Committee nevertheless underlines the importance of always showing respect to the match officials, stressing that such a principle is essential in football and any unsporting conduct that may be contrary to the principles of fair play cannot be accepted. In view of the above decision, the match suspension imposed on Lionel Messi, which entered into force on 28 March 2017, and the fine of CHF 10,000 have been lifted.”
Messi sat out one match under the terms of the suspension, a 2-0 loss to bottom-dwelling Bolivia on March 28 that dropped the defending World Cup runners-up to fifth place in the South American World Cup qualifying standings.
The fifth-place CONMEBOL team must play the champion from Oceania in a two-leg playoff in November to determine who gets one of the last World Cup berths.
In 2018 World Cup qualifiers played without Messi, Argentina has amassed just seven of a possible 24 points.
Under the original terms of his suspension, he would have missed Argentina’s next three World Cup qualifiers in August, September and October, returning for the team’s final qualifying match against Ecuador on Oct. 10. Its next qualifier is Aug. 31 at Uruguay, which is one point ahead of Argentina in the qualification standings.
Messi was suspended for shouting profane insults at assistant referee Emerson Carvalho after he was whistled for a foul late in a match against Chile on March 23. He then refused to shake hands with Carvalho after the game.
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