STAR midfielder Mark Bresciano is free to represent the Socceroos at the Brazil World Cup although his appeal against a four-month FIFA ban continues.

Bresciano received mixed news over the weekend with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejecting his application for a stay or proceedings.

But they also took into account his World Cup aspirations in the process.

Hence the midfielder will continue serving his ban until March 13, though he's free to play in friendlies for club and country as he did in the 1-0 win over Costa Rica last November.

The 33-year-old was handed the four-month penalty after a dispute over the transfer compensation fee UAE-based Al-Nasr was due from Qataris Al-Gharafa from his August 2012 sale.

Al-Nasr claimed it was due more than the $1.9m Al-Gharafa paid to sign Bresciano but his current club will continue the appeal against its own sporting sanctions as it's been banned from signing players for two transfer windows.

The appeal verdict will be handed down by in late March or April but is academic for Bresciano, who will have served his ban by this stage.

There is no chance of the CAS extending Bresciano's suspension, which commenced on November 16.

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Brendan Schwab, vice-president of the worldwide players union FIFPro, had earlier indicated the stay application verdict was a good indicator for the final outcome, but CAS had in this case placed more emphasis on Bresciano's World Cup ambitions.

"Mark is free to play for Australia at the World Cup if selected,'' Schwab said.

"The CAS has given careful regard to Mark's interests and in part his desire to play at the World Cup.

"It's decided that his interests are better protected by the stay not being granted and him serving his suspension, as if he were to lose the final decision in March or April then he would be suspended for the World Cup.

"In deciding to appeal, Mark had to take into account the interests of the club and the Socceroos as well as his own. And I expect that the club and Mark will continue the appeal as a matter of principle.

"Having decided that Mark won't suffer irreparable harm by not being granted the Stay the CAS did not consider the question of whether Mark is likely to succeed with his appeal at the final hearing, so this decision is not an indicator of the final outcome.''

Bresciano hinted after the Costa Rica win that he would accept the ban but chose to gamble his World Cup spot to plead his innocence.

In the end he may yet clear his name, although he will still have served his ban.

The World Cup kicks off on June 12, with the Socceroos due to submit their preliminary squad list on May 13.