Ecuador could be deprived of the 2022 World Cup after the opening of a “disciplinary procedure” to examine the case of a player, FIFA announced on Wednesday.
The player in question, Byron Castillo, is targeted because his nationality is disputed by the Football Federation of Chile, opponent of the Ecuadorians in qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar in November-December.
“Fifa has decided to open disciplinary proceedings intended to examine the potential ineligibility of Byron David Castillo Segura” for the playoff matches played with Ecuador, indicates the governing body of world football. His disciplinary committee was seized after a complaint filed by Chile concerning “the possible falsification of documents granting Ecuadorian nationality” to the player, it is recalled.
Chile hopes…
The right-back of Barcelona Guayaquil, an Ecuadorian club, took part in the two qualifying matches played in September and November 2021 against Chile. If the two matches were won on green carpet for the Chileans, they could finish in fourth qualifying place for the World Cup in Qatar.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee will hear the Byron Castillo case — which could jeopardize Ecuador’s place at World Cup.
In statement, FIFA also mentions that Peru is “invited” to get involved.
Story from last week: https://t.co/UCnPuZClbi pic.twitter.com/HUdPi7QtC9
—Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) May 11, 2022
Chile, who drew 0-0 in Ecuador on September 5, 2021 and then were beaten 2-0 at home on November 17, 2021, finished seventh in the Amsud zone as fourth-placed Ecuador qualified for the World Cup in Qatar. With this appeal, Chile hopes that Ecuador will be sanctioned and that it will be able to play the World Cup in its place.
The Chilean federation assures that “there is countless evidence that the player was born in Colombia, in the city of Tumaco, on July 25, 1995, and not on November 10, 1998 in the Ecuadorian city of Playas.”
The Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) rejected these accusations, assuring that Byron Castillo is “duly registered with the competent legal authority” and has “all national documents in order”.
