World Cup: Chile loses appeal to replace Ecuador
Chili FIFA has lost its appeal to change. Ecuador On the eve of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, world football’s governing body announced on Friday.
FIFA rejected Chile’s argument that Ecuadorian Byron Castillo was actually Colombian and ineligible to play in tournament qualifying, with Castillo playing eight matches for Ecuador.
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FIFA said its appeal judges “considered that, based on the documents presented, the player should be considered to have permanent Ecuadorian citizenship in accordance with the legal rules of football”.
The decision, which upholds a FIFA disciplinary decision from June and will likely be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), puts Ecuador on course to play in Qatar — the World Cup. will face the hosts in the opening game of Doha on November 20 The Netherlands And Senegal Group A is also included.
However, Chile’s legal challenge may continue.
Chile’s football federation has said it plans to appeal FIFA’s decision to the sport’s highest court – the CAS in Lausanne, Switzerland – which could hold an urgent hearing and ruling before the World Cup.
“This is a dark day for football and the reputation of the system,” said Jorge Yong, general secretary of the Chilean Football Federation.
“The footballing world has heard a player who helped Ecuador qualify for the FIFA World Cup admit he was born in Colombia and obtained an Ecuadorian passport using false information. No wonder he refused to attend the FIFA hearing. What has been said about him? [the] Appeal committee that despite all this he is unable to act?
“Of course, we will refer this to the Court of Arbitration for Sport as the weight of evidence is clear, and we urge the Appeals Committee to deliver the grounds for decision very quickly as there has been considerable undue delay and adjournment in this matter. “
Chile claimed it had evidence that proved Castillo was Colombian and should not have appeared for Ecuador.
Chile made its case after the World Cup draw on April 1, and FIFA and Qatari organizers sold thousands of tickets and accommodation to Ecuadorian fans.
“I have never seen such injustice in my entire life as a lawyer,” said Eduardo Carlizo, a lawyer for the Chilean Football Federation.
“There is a huge number of documents that, alone, prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the player was born in Colombia. In addition, everyone heard his confession, from Ecuador’s own federation. It was given during an official investigation. The player joked with the system by not attending the hearing and it had no effect. What else is required?
“It seems clear that anything we can file will not be enough to validate the claim. Sad day for football and fair play. The message is clear: cheating is allowed. We are appealing to CAS. Will do.”
Chile would have moved into the fourth automatic qualification spot in South America’s qualifying group had Ecuador forfeited all eight of Castillo’s games. Ecuador would have been out of the conflict.
FIFA’s legal rules include a section on national team eligibility when a state government has granted citizenship to players.
“Any person of permanent nationality not dependent on residence in a particular country is eligible to play for the representative teams of that country’s association,” according to the rules.
On Thursday, the appeal was heard remotely from Zurich with only three judges present. The chief judge overseeing the case was Neil Eggleston, an American who served as White House counsel in Barack Obama’s second administration.
The FIFA appeals committee rarely overturns a decision by the football body’s disciplinary committee.
Chile has filed complaints against an opposing player in back-to-back World Cup qualifying tournaments.
In the 2018 World Cup Qualifying Group, Bolivia Forfeited two games in which he brought on an ineligible player as a late substitute. FIFA received complaints from Chile and Peru About Bolivian defender Nelson Cabrera, who was born in Paraguay and had previously played for the national team of Paraguay.
Bolivia lost an appeal to CAS, which said FIFA was right to investigate even when the protest was lodged weeks after the games were played.
The affair ultimately hurt Chile. The three extra points awarded to Peru put them above Chile and into an intercontinental play-off which they won to advance to the 2018 tournament in Russia.
FIFA then wrote stricter rules for the 2022 World Cup requiring all players in qualifying games to produce a “valid permanent international passport” for inspection by match officials.