Fifa is to rule this week on whether Ecuador will be kicked out of the 2022 Qatar World Cup as its appeals commission explores allegations of a cover-up of Byron Castillo’s identity.
That is according to the Daily Mail, which reports it has unearthed new evidence the Ecuador Football Federation (FEF) knew of a false birth certificate relating to Castillo. Fifa’s appeals commission is due to rule on its investigation on Thursday, September 15.
Fifa has been looking into Castillo’s true place of birth since April after the Chilean FA raised concerns over his eligibility. It made an official complaint to football’s governing body, claiming the right-back is a Colombian citizen and was not born in Ecuador.
Why is Fifa investigating whether Ecuador should be kicked out of 2022 Qatar World Cup?
Castillo, 23, made his senior international debut for Ecuador in their World Cup qualifiers in September 2021 and featured eight times as La Tri secured an automatic spot for Qatar. He also faced Chile twice in fixtures La Roja – who failed to qualify – only took one point.
Chile hope to replace Ecuador at the World Cup if their South American rival is excluded. If the appeals commission upholds the complaint, Fifa is likely to grant La Roja two 3-0 wins that would move Chile up from seventh in the standings to fourth – La Tri’s position.
Fifa kicking Ecuador out of the 2022 World Cup would also change who Qatar met in the opening fixture. The Maroon are due to start the first World Cup held in the Middle East at home to La Tri on Sunday, November 20 after the opening ceremony at Al Bayt Stadium.
What evidence does Chile have to support the complaint over Castillo’s identity?
The Daily Mail has claimed the Ecuador Football Federation covered up Castillo’s confession to using a false birth certificate. It cites an audio recording from an interview he gave to investigators in 2018.
The FEF held a formal investigation into Castillo’s place of birth four years ago in which the head of its investigative commission interviewed Castillo. The inquiry showed he was born in Tumaco, Colombia, in 1995 rather than in ‘98 as stated on his Ecuadorian birth certificate.
Castillo also gave his name as ‘Bayron Javier Castillo Segura’, as on his Colombian birth certificate, and not ‘Byron David Castillo Segura’, as on his Ecuadorian documents. He also detailed leaving Tumaco for San Lorenzo in Ecuador to pursue a career as a footballer.
FEF’s president and its disciplinary commission were given a letter outlining the conclusions of the investigative commission’s inquiry. However, FEF ruled Castillo was an Ecuadorian citizen in 2019. While Fifa dismissed Chile’s appeal in June, it did not have this evidence.
Fifa’s appeals commission will now rule on Castillo’s identity after examining all relevant documents – including two birth certificates with marginally different names. The commission has also asked the right-back to appear via video link to answer questions.
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