(Reuters) - FIFA has lifted a four-match international suspension on Argentina forward Lionel Messi, world soccer's ruling body said on Friday, in a significant boost to his team's faltering World Cup qualifying campaign. Messi, 29, was banned for insulting an assistant referee during a qualifier against Chile in March, a decision based on television images as the incident was missed by match officials. The suspension had been imposed by FIFA's disciplinary committee only hours before kickoff of the game in La Paz. "The appeal committee nevertheless underlines the importance of always showing respect to the match officials, stressing that such a principle is essential in football," it added. Television pictures showed him swearing at Brazilian linesman Emerson Augusto do Carvalho at the end of the match.

Source: The Star May 05, 2017 13:30 UTC