Chile’s hopes of securing a last-minute ticket to the World Cup in extraordinary circumstances were boosted on Thursday when Ecuador’s Byron Castillo failed to attend a FIFA Appeal Commission hearing into his nationality.
FIFA had ordered Castillo to make himself available for the hearing, which was conducted remotely by three judges from Zurich, after Sportsmail revealed new evidence by publishing an audio recording of the Ecuador international revealing birth details which matched his Colombian birth certificate earlier this week.
Castillo was not willing to submit to cross-examination from the judges however, leaving Ecuador Football Federation officials to argue his case.
Ecuador’s Byron Castillo (pictured right) failed to attend a FIFA hearing into his nationality
FIFA summoned Castillo to attend Thursday’s hearing of their Appeals Commission
However, Castillo (left) was not willing to submit to cross-examination from the judges
The Chile FA claim to have documents proving Castillo was never eligible to represent Ecuador – a case seemingly supported by his audio confession – and that as a result they should forfeit the qualifying matches in which he played, which would send Chile to the World Cup.
FIFA have 20 days to deliver a verdict, but with the World Cup just nine weeks away are expected to announce their decision within days. The FIFA judge presiding over the case Neil Eggleston, an American served under president Barack Obama in the White House.
Chile could take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne if FIFA rule against them, but are running out of time as Ecuador are due to take part in the opening game of the World Cup against Qatar on 20 November.
The name of Byron Castillo was given on the Ecuadorian birth certificate (left), while his real name of Bayron Javier Castillo Segura is on the Colombian birth certificate (right)