The International Football Association (FIFA) has retained Ecuador’s qualification for the 2022 World Cup final scheduled for year-end in Qatar after rejecting an appeal filed by Chile and Peru on Friday, which are skeptical of Byron Castillo’s nationality. , who was in the national team at the qualifiers.
“After reviewing all the documents added to the case by the interested parties and holding hearings, the Appeals Committee (at FIFA) confirmed the decision of the Disciplinary Committee to dismiss the case against the Ecuadorian Football Federation,” FIFA said in a statement. .
“Among other considerations (FIFA) and based on the documents submitted to it, the player must be considered to have permanent Ecuadorian citizenship in accordance with article 5, paragraph 1, of the FIFA Regulations.”
The international federation said the decision could be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
In June, FIFA announced it had closed its investigation into the suspension of Ecuadorian defender Castillo during a 2022 World Cup qualifier in Qatar, without citing any penalties.
In May, the International Federation opened “disciplinary measures” to deal with Castillo’s case after the Chilean Football Association filed a complaint about his nationality.
FIFA said in a statement that it “decided to open disciplinary procedures to look into the possibility of Byron David Castillo Segura’s suspension” to play with Ecuador in the South American qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Chilean Football Association filed a complaint with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on the basis of “possible falsification of documents granting the player Ecuadorian citizenship.”
The 23-year-old Castillo played both home and away matches in the qualifying matches against Chile, the first of which ended in a goalless draw in Quito on September 5, 2021, and the second in a 2-0 victory for Ecuador on November 17 of the same year.
Chile’s complaint alleged that Castillo was born in the Colombian city of Tumaco on 25 July 1995 and not in the Ecuadorian city of Pale on 10 November 1998.
Castillo wore Ecuador’s under-17 and under-20 jerseys before joining the first team. He made his first appearance in September 2021 and played in 8 World Cup qualifiers for Qatar, contributing to four wins, two draws and two losses.
And Ecuador signed for the 2022 Qatar final in Group A along with the host country, the Netherlands and Senegal.
It is worth noting that on September 23, at a friendly training camp in Spanish Alicante, our team will play with Ecuador.