Harry Kewell has been cleared to play in Australia's final group match after Fifa dropped a charge that he had insulted referee Markus Merk following the 2-0 defeat by Brazil.

Fifa said the referee's report that he had been insulted by the Liverpool winger after the final whistle was "inconsistent" and the case has been dropped.

Kewell is now eligible to play in Australia's last game of Group F against Croatia in Stuttgart on Thursday, where victory would see the Socceroos qualify for the first knockout stage.

A Fifa spokesman would not expand on what the inconsistencies were, but it is thought they were over whether Merk had understood exactly what Kewell was saying.

The Australian had a heated exchange with Merk after the final whistle and wagged his finger at the match official, but said afterwards it had been "just heat of the moment stuff".