Lionel Messi "is free to represent Argentina" in its World Cup qualifiers after his four-match int'l ban was "overturned on appeal," according to the BBC. The 29-year-old Barcelona forward was suspended for directing "insulting words" at an assistant referee during a 1-0 win over Chile in March. He missed one match -- Argentina's 2-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Bolivia. A FIFA appeal committee said that while his behavior was "reproachable," the evidence was "not sufficient." He will now be available for matches against Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru as Argentina fights to "secure a place" at the 2018 World Cup. A fine of 10,000 Swiss francs ($10,100) was also lifted (BBC, 5/5). ESPN.com's Tim Vickery wrote the numbers "highlight the importance of the reprieve" Messi received. He is "ready to return, which could make all the difference" between qualifying for next year's World Cup -- Messi's last attempt to win the trophy while he is "at his peak" -- and watching it on TV. The outcome "has worked out even better than Argentina had hoped." It was "optimistic of reducing the ban to two games." Indeed, the outcome is "so good for Argentina that it makes the whole process look ridiculous." He was let off on Friday "for lack of evidence," but in March the evidence was considered "strong enough to stop him playing on the morning of a match." Looking at "all the twisted developments, it seems to be less a case of any grand conspiracy theory and more the suspicion of a chain of incompetence" (ESPN.com, 5/6).
DOUBLE STANDARD?: ESPN.com reported Chile's Arturo Vidal said that FIFA "would not lift a suspension for every player" like it did for Messi. Chile has had "a number of suspensions during the current World Cup qualifying campaign." Jorge Valdivia and Gary Medel had to serve full four-game suspensions for "incidents similar to Messi's, while Eduardo Vargas was handed a two-game ban." Vidal suggested Messi "received special treatment in his appeal" (ESPN.com, 5/6).
MESTRE OPTIMISTIC: ESPN.com's Samuel Marsden reported Barcelona VP Jordi Mestre "knocked back reports" Messi "turned down the club's first offer of a new contract" and said that he expects an agreement to be finalized in "the coming weeks." Messi's contract expires in '18 and he is "currently in talks over a new deal to extend his stay at Camp Nou." Mestre: "The truth is everything looks good. ... Lionel Messi's contract renewal is on track" (ESPN.com, 5/6).
