Man City cleared of wrongdoing over Benjamin Garre signing

Manchester City have been cleared of wrongdoing over the controversial signing of teenager Benjamin Garre from Argentinian club Velez Sarsfield.

The newly crowned Premier League champions could have faced a transfer ban had a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport gone against them.

Velez claimed City broke world governing body FIFA's regulations on international transfers when they signed Garre, then 16, in July 2016.

Velez argued FIFA rules only allow players under the age of 18 to move between clubs in European Union countries. City countered that Garre held an Italian passport and was therefore entitled to move after his 16th birthday.

FIFA ruled in City's favour over the matter but Velez took their complaint to Lausanne-based CAS, where the case was heard last summer. Now, following a lengthy delay, a verdict could be imminent.

It is understood City have already been informed that the court has upheld FIFA's original ruling.

City could have been banned from signing players for up to two transfer windows had the ruling not gone in their favour.

Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have been subjected to bans for breaching rules around the signing of international players under the age of 18 in recent years.

- Press Association