After the Chilean National Professional Football Association (ANFP) confirmed that it filed a complaint with FIFA's Disciplinary Committee regarding the controversy over the nationality of Ecuadorian player Byron Castillo, officials from the northern country officially expressed their "categorical rejection" of the claim.
"In the face of unfounded rumors spread to the public opinion, with the clear objective of destabilizing the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF), we categorically reject any attempt by those who seek to prevent their participation in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, which was legitimately obtained on the field," the FEF stated in a press release.
The entity stated that the Tri respected "all the principles and values of sports, as well as the legal norms of the Ecuadorian state and international sports law." Regarding Castillo, the statement emphasizes that the player meets all the requirements to prove his Ecuadorian nationality.
Ecuador's statement. Photo: FEF
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"Regarding our player Byron Castillo, we must be emphatic that the footballer is an Ecuadorian citizen for all legal purposes, both in the civil and sports spheres, being duly registered with the competent national authority and having all the necessary national documentation in order," reads the document.
What does Chile claim about Byron Castillo?
In their complaint, the ANFP demands an investigation by FIFA into "the use of a false birth certificate, false statement of age, and false nationality" by Byron Castillo, a situation of which the FEF would have been aware. The complainant alleges that there is "countless evidence that the player was born in Colombia," therefore, his participation in the South American qualifiers would not have been legal.
In a hypothetical scenario in which the Chilean claim proceeds, it is speculated that the points from the two games Castillo played against La Roja would be automatically awarded to them. With this, they would reach 24 points in the standings and displace the Ecuadorian team from the spot that grants them direct access to Qatar 2022.
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Chilean lawyer confident in the claim
Eduardo Carlezzo, lawyer for the ANFP, stated that the complaint filed by the Chilean federation is substantiated, as the investigation they carried out confirms it. He also confirmed that a potential sanction against Ecuador would benefit his country.
"After analyzing a dozen documents, we concluded that this player is Colombian, that his Ecuadorian birth certificate is false. The consequence would be the loss of points for Ecuador and, in this case, Chile would gain five points, which would directly qualify them for the World Cup," stated the lawyer in an interview with "Noticias Express" from CNN Chile.