17 year old Lazio midfielder Joseph Minala,who looks older than his age, has been cleared to resume his career after proving he's not a 42-year-old masquerading as a youth team player.
The Italian FA launched an investigation after an African football website claimed that Cameroon-born Minala was pretending to be 17 and had altered his passport to take a full 25 years of his actual birth date
That led to an official investigation which saw him questioned by the league's federal prosecutor.
Age row: Lazio have threatened legal action after a youth team player, 17-year-old Joseph Minala was accused of being in his 40s. The club and his agent issued a statement rubbishing the claims
Documents: The club released official documents after Minala was the subject of abuse because of pictures he released on social networking sites - Minala has now deleted his
Instagram and Facebook accounts
Instagram and Facebook accounts
In action: The Cameroonian joined Lazio last August and has impressed for their youth team
In the dressing room: Minala alongside some of his Lazio youth team team-mates
However a statement released by the Italian association on Wednesday confirmed that Minala has been cleared and is now free to resume his career.
'The federal prosecutor has examined the report and ordered the investigation to be closed,' the statement read.
'There are no doubts about his age. He is 17.'
Minala came in for abuse on social networking sites after releasing a picture showing him looking much older than his teenage years.
Digs: Minala in his dormitory
Triallist: Minala had spells at Napoli and Inter before joining the Romans
Lazio and Minala's agent rubbished claims that he was a cheat, producing the paper work to prove he was the correct age.
'Lazio denounce this latest attempt from hostile figures to throw a sinister light on this club,' said a club statement.
'We reserve the right to take action against those responsible for the protection of the good name of the company and the footballer.'
Minala has had to block photos on his Instagram account and delete his Facebook profile because of the abuse he got over the pictures.
His agent, Diego Tavano, told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport: 'He had a difficult time growing up. If you talk to him you'll realise he is in every way a 17-year-old lad.'
Minala still has a Twitter account and after the age storm sent the following message: 'Envy is the weakness of man, and those with a poor soul hurt others when you are in Serie A. Love you!
SOURCE DAILY MAIL UK
SOURCE DAILY MAIL UK
Defence: Minala's agent said the player looks older because of a 'difficult' childhood
Storm: He was forced to delete his Instagram and Facebook accounts, but remains on Twitter
