A FIFA appeals panel has overturned a ban the global soccer body imposed last year on Saoud Al-Mohannadi, a high-ranking Qatari and Asian soccer official, for failing to cooperate as a witness with an investigation, it said on Thursday.

FIFA's ethics watchdog in November had handed him a one-year ban. Al-Mohannadi, a vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Qatar Football Association (QFA), had denied wrongdoing.

"The Appeal Committee considered that the evidence available was not sufficient to establish to the appropriate standard...that Mr Al-Mohannadi had acted in violation of the FCE (FIFA Code of Ethics)," it said in a statement. It also revoked a fine of 20,000 Swiss francs ($19,926) levied against him.