FIFA ask Byron Castillo to attend hearing after it emerged he was actually born in Colombia and leaving Ecuador at risk of being kicked out of Qatar World Cup

Ecuador‘s Bryan Castillo has been asked by FIFA to attend a hearing of their Appeals Commission with the team’s place at the World Cup under threat.

It comes after revelations that Castillo, who was born in Colombia, falsified his birth documents.

AP

Chile made a complaint to FIFA after Ecuador had book their place for the 2022 tournament and now Castillo’s presence at the governing body’s HQ in Zurich is required.

The right-back featured eight times in their World Cup qualifying campaign before incredible claims emerged that involved fake identities and alleged cover-ups by the Ecuador Federation.

However, FIFA dismissed the Chilean FA’s complaint in June and ruled that Castillo was born in Ecuador.

The incredible story has taken many twists and turns since then, with Spanish publication Marca obtaining his Colombian birth certificate.

The Mail also published an audio recording of an interview with Castillo, conducted by the Ecuador Football Federation (FEF)’s Investigative Commission, four years ago.

In it, he states he was actually born in 1995 and not 1998, as stated by his Ecuadorian birth certificate.

He also confirmed his real name is in fact Bayron Javier Castillo Segura, as stated on his Colombian birth certificate.

Castillo also details how he left his hometown in Colombia to cross the border into Ecuador to get more opportunities to play football.

“I crossed the border because, you know, teams from Tumaco play in San Lorenzo,” Castillo explained.

“I went to do some trials in San Lorenzo, I remember that very well. I never got picked for any of the teams at those trials, but my friend who was picked never turned up so I went instead.”

AFP

He also revealed that Marco Zambrano, an Ecuadorian businessman and owner of NorteAmerica, who were suspended by the FEF in 2018, was behind the fake ID.

Chile’s Football Association head, Pablo Milad, says the recording vindicates his nation’s claim.

“Now, we will wait for what the appeals chamber decides with this subpoena that we have on September 15. I hope the player goes,” he said. “I believe that he cannot deny what he himself said and the accusations that he has made against the Ecuadorian federation.

“We did not have the direct background of this audio, we are surprised and happy that this recording has come out. We did have a history that this player was Colombian and that he deceived the whole world.”

Now FIFA has written that “the Ecuadorian Football Association is requested to ensure that the player Byron David Castillo Segura is made available and attends.”

It could see Ecuador kicked out of the World Cup where the nation is due to face hosts Qatar in the first match of the tournament on 20 November.

If FIFA followed recent precedent, two 3-0 victories would be awarded to Chile as a result of their complaints. They would move up from seventh to fourth and take Ecuador’s place.