FIFA confirmed on Wednesday that it has opened an investigation into allegations that Ecuador paid a player ineligible to participate in the World Cup qualifiers.
The Chilean Football Association said last week that it had evidence that Barcelona Guayaquil back-back Byron Castillo was born in Tomaco, Colombia, in 1995, and not in the Ecuadorean city of General Bimil Playas in 1998, as stated in his official papers.
The Chilean Football Association added that Barcelona’s full-back Guayaquil, who played in eight matches in Ecuador’s qualifying matches for the Qatar finals, used a forged passport and birth certificate.
Ecuador is one of four South American teams that have qualified for the World Cup finals later this year, along with Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Fifth-placed Peru will play a play-off next month.
FIFA said in a statement: “FIFA has decided to open disciplinary proceedings in relation to the possible disqualification of Byron David Castillo Segura in connection with the aforementioned matches.
Last week, the Ecuadorean Federation dismissed Chile’s allegations as “baseless rumours”.
However, Castillo’s disqualification could cause problems for Ecuador.
Castillo played in eight out of 18 qualifiers with Ecuador, in which the team scored 14 points out of 26 points.
And if Ecuador loses points in the matches in which Castillo has participated, it could lose its current place in the Qatar finals.
Chile finished seventh in the qualifiers with 19 points, but Chilean federation lawyer Eduardo Carlizzo said that if Chile got points from Ecuador’s two matches in which Castillo participated, they would qualify for the World Cup instead of competing.
