FIFA overturns Argentina captain Lionel Messi's four-game international ban

In a major boost to Argentina's aspirations to qualify for the World Cup, football governing body FIFA has overturned Lionel Messi's four-match ban. Messi had testify via video link at a FIFA hearing in Zurich on Thursday in an attempt  to get the punishment reduced. 

The Barcelona star was given a four-match ban for verbally abusing a match official during Argentina's World Cup qualifying game against Chile in March.

The forward served the first game of the ban in last month's qualifying defeat in Bolivia. Now he is expected to play in games against Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru. 

(More details awaited)

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