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Messi ban lifted in major boost to Argentina World Cup hopes

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Messi's suspension lifted by FIFA

Argentina's hopes of reaching next year's World Cup were given a huge boost on Friday after FIFA overturned Lionel Messi's four-game ban for swearing at an assistant referee.

FIFA said there was not enough evidence to support the stiff punishment meted out in March to the 29-year-old Barcelona striker, who is central to Argentina's faltering bid to get to Russia 2018.

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