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Byron Castillo (right), here in the game against Argentina in March
Photo: Jose Jacome/AP
Despite failing to qualify, the Chilean national soccer team still has hopes of participating in the World Cup finals (November 21 to December 18) in Qatar.
As Fifa confirmed on Thursday evening, Chile has lodged a protest with the world association because Ecuador is said to have used a player who was not eligible to play in the South America qualifier with defender Byron Castillo - Castillo is said to be Colombian.
The New York Times first reported on the case.
Chile's multi-page complaint to Fifa, which is available to the "Times" and the Reuters news agency, is said to contain, among other things, Castillo's birth certificate, which shows that the defender was born in Colombia.
He is therefore also three years older than it says in the official documents (born in 1995 instead of 1998).
Castillo is said not to have been born in the Ecuadorian city of General Villamil Playas, as stated in his official birth certificate, but in Tumaco, Colombia.
The Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) is said to have launched an internal investigation.
The FEF "categorically" rejected the allegations.
In a statement, it was said that regarding Castillo, it should be stressed “that the footballer is an Ecuadorian citizen in all legal matters, both civil and sporting, since he is duly registered with the competent national authority and all national documents are in are in order«.
The federation went on to say that any player nomination would be made "in strict compliance with the applicable legal provisions and with documentation proving the applicant's Ecuadorian nationality".
One is prepared to prove to Fifa or another body that one acted lawfully at all times.
Castillo himself also spoke up.
In an Instagram story, he scolded "stupid, gossiping and feeble-minded people", accusing the "parasites that like to hurt others".
The doubters, he scolded, "have no balls" - and "now I'm the villain everyone is talking about".
It is unclear whether Castillo may have been naturalized.
According to Reuters, there were reports of naturalization in a newspaper from Ecuador in 2021, five months later Castillo made his debut for Ecuador.
In such a case, he could also play for his new country as a native of Colombia - but not if he had already played a game for his former country's senior team.
However, in the case of naturalization, the inconsistency would remain that the official documents should state Playas as the place of birth.
Table arithmetic games: Why Chile could jump to fourth place
Chile was only seventh in qualifying but hopes to jump up to fourth after the cancellation of all matches involving Castillo.
Ecuador had fought for this and thus qualified for the World Cup.
Chile drew 0-0 against Ecuador in the first leg and lost 2-0 in the second leg.
Castillo had been on the pitch in both games.
In the final table, the country has 19 points and a goal difference of minus seven.
According to the AP news agency, Fifa regulations stipulate that games in which an ineligible player is used should be scored 0:3.
This could put Chile on 24 points plus a goal difference plus one.
Between the two nations are Peru (24 points, goal difference of minus three), who are still playing for World Cup participation in the intercontinental playoffs, and Colombia (23 points, goal difference of plus one).
Castillo was not used against either team.
Even the teams behind Chile could no longer overtake Chile with possible points awarded.
Not the first time
“The football world cannot turn a blind eye to so much evidence.
These serious and irregular practices in the registration of players cannot be accepted, especially when it is a global competition," Chile's complaint said, according to Reuters news agency.
It's not the first time player nationality has been an issue in South America.
Bolivia's 2018 World Cup qualifier included Nelson Cabrera, who was born in Paraguay and also played for the national team there.
Two games were then canceled .
At that time, Chile, among others, had lodged a complaint.
bka/sid/AP/Reuters
