BUENOS AIRES : Lionel Messi can play in Argentina\u2019s opening World Cup qualifier next month because the statute of limitations has run out on the ban he was given during last year\u2019s Copa America, the president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said.
\nMessi was banned for one game after being sent off in the Copa America third-place playoff against Chile and for levelling accusations of \u201ccorruption\u201d at South American soccer chiefs.
\nMessi had been expected to serve the ban by missing Argentina\u2019s qualifier against Ecuador that is scheduled to take place in Buenos Aires on Oct. 8.
\nHowever, Claudio Tapia said he had consulted with the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) President Alejandro Dominguez, who \u201cconfirmed the statute of limitations had expired and that he (Messi) is able to play,\u201d the AFA twitter said.
\nThe Barcelona forward was shown the red card after clashing with Gary Medel and afterwards he alleged the tournament had been fixed in favour of the hosts Brazil, who beat Argentina in a controversial semi-final on their way to claiming the title.
\nArgentina, who last won the World Cup in 1986, kick off their qualifying campaign with a double header at home to Ecuador and away to Bolivia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BUENOS AIRES : Lionel Messi can play in Argentina\u2019s opening World Cup qualifier next month because the statute of limitations has run out on the ban he was given during last year\u2019s Copa America, the president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said. Messi was banned for one game after being sent off in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":143823,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-143818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n