The world’s football governing body (FIFA) said it has opened disciplinary proceedings against Ecuador over an allegation bordering on falsification that was brought before its panel by the Football Federation of Chile.
Chilean Football Federation reported Ecuador who secured automatic qualification to the 2022 Qatar World Cup after emerging fourth in the CONMEBOL tourney, for fielding an ineligible player.
According to the Chilean federation, one of Ecuador’s defenders, Byron Castillo, who is alleged to be a Colombian, falsified his age and nationality to play eight matches for Ecuador; an act that is a breach of FIFA’s rule.
Chile in the petition asked FIFA to void all games Castilo featured in and award the points to the other teams.
FIFA, in granting Chile’s plea, will offer them the leverage to leapfrog Peru and Colombia to the fourth position, a position that automatically gives them a qualifying ticket to Qatar.
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Following, FIFA in a statement confirming the receipt of Chile’s petition revealed it has invited the Ecuador football federation and their Peruvian counterpart regarding the issue.
The statement read: “As recently confirmed by FIFA, the Chilean Football Federation has filed a complaint with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, in which it presents various allegations about the possible falsification of the documents that grant Ecuadorian nationality to the player Byron David Castillo Segura, as well as the possible non-compliance of the said footballer with the call criteria to participate with the national team of the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) in eight qualifying matches, corresponding to the preliminary phase of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“In view of the foregoing, FIFA has decided to open disciplinary proceedings in relation to Byron David Castillo Segura’s possible breach of the call criteria for the indicated matches. In this context, the FEF and the Peruvian Football Federation have been invited to present their positions before the FIFA Disciplinary Committee,” the statement added.
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