FIFA opens disciplinary case over Ecuador World Cup player

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GENEVA (AP) — FIFA opened a disciplinary case Wednesday looking into whether Ecuador fielded an ineligible player during World Cup qualifying, a case that could see the country thrown out of this year's tournament in Qatar.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/05/2022 (1588 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

GENEVA (AP) — FIFA opened a disciplinary case Wednesday looking into whether Ecuador fielded an ineligible player during World Cup qualifying, a case that could see the country thrown out of this year’s tournament in Qatar.

FIFA opened a disicplinary case after Chile filed a formal complaint last week alleging that Byron Castillo is Colombian and should not have been allowed to play for Ecuador in eight qualifying games. Ecuador now risks having to forfeit those games — including one win and a draw against Chile — as 3-0 losses.

Ecuador finished fourth in South American qualifying to grab the continent’s last automatic berth for the World Cup. It was drawn into a group with Qatar, the Netherlands and Senegal.

FILE - Ecuador's Byron Castillo, right, plays the ball as Argentina's Nicolas Gonzalez closes in during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Monumental Banco Pichincha stadium in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on March 29, 2022. A World Cup legal dispute flared Thursday, May 5, 2022, with Chile challenging Ecuador’s place at the finals tournament over an alleged ineligible player. The Chilean soccer federation asked FIFA to investigate its claim that Ecuador player Byron Castillo is actually Colombian and not entitled to have played in qualifying games. (Jose Jacome/Pool via AP, File)
FILE - Ecuador's Byron Castillo, right, plays the ball as Argentina's Nicolas Gonzalez closes in during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Monumental Banco Pichincha stadium in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on March 29, 2022. A World Cup legal dispute flared Thursday, May 5, 2022, with Chile challenging Ecuador’s place at the finals tournament over an alleged ineligible player. The Chilean soccer federation asked FIFA to investigate its claim that Ecuador player Byron Castillo is actually Colombian and not entitled to have played in qualifying games. (Jose Jacome/Pool via AP, File)

Chile finished seventh, but could vault into the qualifying places if it was awarded six points from its games against Ecuador, along with the better goal difference.

Castillo did not play in games against fifth-place Peru or sixth-place Colombia.

Regardless of the outcome of the case, Peru could yet qualify for the World Cup as it is scheduled to play an intercontinental playoff game against Australia or the United Arab Emirates on June 13 in Doha.

FIFA said it has asked the Peruvian soccer association to submit its position on the Castillo case as well.

The FIFA investigation will look at “allegations concerning the possible falsification of documents granting Ecuadorian nationality to the player,” soccer’s governing body said.

A FIFA ruling is likely needed within a month, ahead of the intercontinental playoffs.

Ecuador’s soccer federation previously rejected Chile’s claims and insisted that Castillo is legally an Ecuadorian citizen.

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