Next stop CAS for Chileans after FIFA panel rejects ineligibility appeal
KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: Chile’s bid for World Cup resurrection is almost certain to end up at the Court of Arbitration for Sport after FIFA’s appeal committee rejected the claim that Ecuador fielded an ineligible player in qualifying.
On Thursday the Chilean federation failed in a bid to overturn the world federation’s original decision in the case of Byron Castillo meaning that Ecuador continues towards a World Cup opening tie with hosts Qatar.
The Chileans had complained that Castillo – who played in eight of Ecuador’s qualifiers – was Colombian and had faked not only his nationality but his age.
Pablo Milad, president of the Chilean federation, had warned that he would take the fight to the Arbitration for Sport if FIFA’s appeal panel vindicated the original decision over Castillo who plays for Ecuadorian club Barcelona.
Castillo’s nationality had reportedly been looked into by Ecuadorian authorities and the FEF over a number of years, before the player was eventually picked for the national side last year.
FIFA statement:
The FIFA Appeal Committee has rendered its decision on the appeals lodged by the Chilean Football Association (FFCH) and the Peruvian Football Association (FPF) against the decision issued by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on the potential ineligibility of the player Byron David Castillo Segura with regard to his participation in eight qualifying matches of the national team of the Ecuadorian Football Association (FEF) in the preliminary competition of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
Having analysed the submissions of all parties and after a hearing had been conducted, the Appeal Committee confirmed the decision of the Disciplinary Committee to close the proceedings initiated against the FEF. Amongst other considerations, it deemed that on the basis of the documents presented, the player was to be considered as holding permanent Ecuadorian nationality in accordance with art. 5 par. 1 of the FIFA Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes.
The findings of the decision passed by the Appeal Committee were notified to the parties concerned today. The present decision remains subject to an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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