Joseph Minala: Italian FA confirms Lazio player is 17, not 42

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An official Italian Football Association investigation has concluded that Lazio youth player Joseph Minala is 17, and not in his 40s.

"The federal prosecutor has examined the reports of the allegations and decided to dismiss the case in the light of concrete evidence over the age of the player Joseph Minala," said the FIGC in a statement.

"There are no doubts about his age. He is 17."

African website senego.net reported in February that Minala, who is from Cameroon, was really 42 and had altered his passport, something the player denied in a statement on the Serie A club's website.

Minala made his Serie A debut against Sampdoria in April and made two further appearances last season.