FIFA lifts Messi's remaining 3-match ban after successful appeal

The FIFA Appeal Committee announced Friday it has upheld the appeal submitted by the Argentinian Football Association regarding Lionel Messi. The appeal was lodged against the FIFA Disciplinary Committee after its decision to issue a four-match ban on the Argentina captain for a profanity-laden tirade he aimed at an assistant referee in March.

Having already served one of those four matches in a 2-0 defeat at Bolivia, Messi's remaining three-match ban has been waived - along with a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs - and the diminutive attacker will return in time to help La Albiceleste attempt to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The FIFA Appeal Committee did acknowledge that Messi's behaviour was "reproachable," but concluded that "the evidence available was not sufficient" to dole out the sort of punishment that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee initially issued.

"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," read a statement on FIFA.com.

Messi is now available for upcoming matches against Uruguay on Aug. 31, Venezuela on Sept. 5, and Peru on Oct. 5. Argentina then wraps up its World Cup qualifying efforts on Oct. 10 against Ecuador.

La Albiceleste need as many points as they can get as Argentina sits fifth in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table, a precarious position that could potentially see the South American powerhouse miss the Russian affair.

Still, with Messi back in the lineup, Argentina's chances of qualifying improve tremendously, as the team won 83 percent of its qualifiers with Messi in the lineup as opposed to only 14 percent without him.