Messi was almost ruled out of the Olympics because Barcelona won a ruling that to pull out of the tournament, but the Spanish team still allowed him to play.

BBC: Messi makes the difference

According to some sources, he was ruled out almost immediately due to what was then perceived as an air-tight alibi, substantiated under polygraph by a number of eye-witnesses.

CNN: Moxley Case: Excerpts from the Sutton Report

Bookmakers agreed, saying the line on the game currently the Patriots are three-point favorites would almost certainly tighten if Gronkowski were ruled out of the game.

WSJ: An NFL Season Hinges on Rob Gronkowski's Ankle

Tevez had the ball in the net almost immediately, but referee Olegario Benquerenca ruled out the effort for handball.

BBC: AaB Aalborg 0-3 Man Utd

They wanted to find a country with a relatively low rate of adoption, so that ruled out Guatemala, which managed to place almost 4, 100 children with American families last year.

FORBES: Magazine Article

It almost got worse for the hosts as Bees striker Jason Price had a goal ruled out for offside before Izale McLeod was denied by debutant goalkeeper Stephen Henderson.

BBC: Portsmouth 0-1 Barnet

And with Daryl Tuffey ruled out with a broken finger, 19-year-old batsman Williamson - who averages almost 50 in first-class cricket - could yet also earn himself a call is the pitch dries out, said Greatbatch.

BBC: Daniel Vettori to win 100th cap against Australia