Dylan Bettencourt
The South American nation of Ecuador might be out of this year’s World Cup before they’ve even kicked a ball.
A Fifa appeals committee will on Thursday decide if they will expel Ecuador from the tournament after the country was accused of fielding an ineligible player.
Chile, who did not qualify for the showpiece, claimed that defender Byron Castillo was fielded as an ineligible player because he was born in Colombia and has a fake passport.
Chile also claimed the player is three years older than the age that is stated in the documents submitted to Fifa.
Fifa have already once rejected the accusations but Chile launched an appeal. They could qualify in Ecuador’s place if the appeals committee rules in their favour.
Ecuador does not dispute Castillo’s place of birth but explained he was an illegal immigrant who came to the country as a minor and has lived there long enough to be granted residency.
A past government investigation showed 75 youth players had been given false documents with Castillo telling investigators that he was born in Colombia in 1995 rather than in 1998.
The investigation’s transcripts are part of the case Chile put forward.
Ecuador’s football association vice president Carlos Manzur said in March 2021 that Castillo would not be selected for the national team until the matter was closed.
A month later a court in Ecuador handed Castillo an identification document that allowed him to make his debut for the national team.
He has only played eight matches since, including in a 2-0 victory over Chile which all but ended their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar.
It remains unclear whether Chile would take the place of Ecuador as Peru finished just below them in the qualifications table.
However, if only the games Castillo took part in are considered null and void Chile would then head to Qatar for the World Cup. Image source: @InsideTheGames
