VERON CLEARED IN PASSPORT SCANDAL

The Argentinian`s agent Gustavo Mascardi had been in negotiations with The Red Devils regarding a possible move to Old Trafford, but all talks were put on hold until after the outcome of the court case.

Federation prosecutors had demanded a two-year ban for the 26-year-old over allegations that he obtained a valid Italian passport by way of using fake documentation, avoiding old restrictions on the number of non-EU players in a team.

The player has now been cleared of passport fraud, unlike Internazionale`s Uruguayan ace Alvaro Recoba who has been banned for one year, meaning he is now free to concentrate on his future.

Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson is sure to have been monitoring the proceedings and may approach the Roman club, but a transfer is far from certain.

Prior to the court case, Veron said: "I'm not leaving. I want to wait and see what happens here.

"The rumours of me being close to Manchester United? None of them are true."

United, though, view Veron as a huge potential summer signing, as it would complete an awesome midfield quartet of Roy Keane, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and the Argentinian powerhouse.

While the court case has been rumbling on, United have been linked with Patrick Vieira, but Arsenal are unlikely to sell their star asset to a major rival, meaning Veron is the obvious candidate.

Lazio president Sergio Cragnotti was also cleared of any wrongdoing, although the club have been fined £600,00, and he appeared pleased with the outcome.

"I am very satisfied with the decision because what has been recognised is what I have always maintained," said Cragnotti, who saw director Felice Pulici banned for a year.

"In the Veron case, both Lazio and the player have been defrauded."

Disciplinary commission member Gianpaolo Tosel stated that Veron's ignorance that he was in posession of a false passport was the deciding factor in letting him off the hook.

"The people found guilty were fully aware that they had false passports, with Veron we are satisfied that he was not," Tosel declared.