FIFA dismisses Chile appeal, Ecuador keep spot at World Cup

Ecuador will play at the 2022 World Cup after FIFA dismissed an appeal in the case of Ecuadorian player Byron Castillo whom Chile claimed was ineligible for the qualifiers, world soccer's governing body said on Friday. Chile had appealed FIFA's June 10 decision to dismiss their complaint that Castillo was born in Tumaco, Colombia in 1995 and not in the Ecuadorian city of General Villamil Playas in 1998, as stated on his official documents.

"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 (Ecuadorian Football Association)," FIFA said in a statement. "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...

FIFA Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes." The Chilean Football Federation confirmed it would appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). "This is a dark day for football and for the credibility of the system...

Of course, we will refer this to the Court of Arbitration for Sport," Jorge Yunge, general secretary of the Chilean Football Federation, said. "The weight of evidence is clear and we urge the Appeal Committee to deliver the grounds of the decision very quickly because there were enough unjustifiable delays and postponements in this case." 'NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS'The Chilean Football Federation's lawyer Eduardo Carlezzo said they had a "huge number of documents" that proved "without any reasonable doubt that the player was born in Colombia".