FIFA have rejected Chile’s complaint about an ineligible player, so Ecuador will keep their place at the 2022 World Cup, definitively closing the door on Italy too.
All reports until today had pointed towards FIFA accepting Ecuador had fielded an ineligible player in eight of their World Cup qualifiers, with claims Bryan Castillo was born in Colombia and was using a faked birth certificate.
However, today FIFA announced they have rejected Chile’s complaint, so Ecuador will be going to the 2022 World Cup in November and December.
Ecuador have been placed in Group A with hosts Qatar, the Netherlands and Senegal.
In theory, Italy would’ve been promoted into the tournament, as the rules would benefit the eliminated team highest in the FIFA world rankings.
However, the likely option would’ve been to give Ecuador a defeat in all their games where Castillo played, which would push Chile up the South American table instead.
It would also have allowed them to maintain the balance of South American to European teams in the tournament.
Hoy se ha hecho justicia deportiva, siempre supimos estar del lado correcto, vamos Ecuador!!! @FEFecuador pic.twitter.com/epK9HJ4W2o
— Francisco Egas (@franciscoegas) June 10, 2022
😒😢
We had hope. 🙁
“In theory, Italy would’ve been promoted into the tournament, as the rules would benefit the eliminated team highest in the FIFA world rankings.”
Source? Come on, FI. Show the literature where such a rule exists.
The one I found speaks of FIFA’S discretion. Nothing about the highest Ranking team.
Justice done. Chile trying everything to benefit them. Colombia haven’t kicked up a fuss!
Chile and Italy don’t deserve a backdoor in. Ecuador get their chance as they deserve.
what could have been if mancini simply added a few players. he kept with jorgin and immobile for too long expecting a different result. it was arrogance at its finest.
I would like an explanation as to why they Ecuador were not kicked out? FIFA have bottled it, they did not a long legal battle with the World Cup just months away! All FIFA know how to do is corrupt the game!
FIFAs so corrupt witn accountability or repurcussions and always involved in scandalous activity and won’t provide any explanation or rationale for their decisions. FI shouldn’t have aided and abetted the thought that Italy would actually have a backdoor into the WC.
@ Brandon…
You’re looking for a source from FI. It’s just some “journalist” wearing pajamas in the basement.
🤣
Italy blew the two chances they had with missed goals from Jorginho. They need to plan for euro’s. And find new talent. Serie A also let them down with short training time. Everyone needs to be on the same page. And Serie A needs to start bringing up talent instead of signing foreigners. Every time a foreign talent becomes available the same Serie A teams are mentioned. When they can’t even balance their books. Italy was never going to be included. Wishful thinking. I am glad my son’s and I were able to see the 2006 victory in Germany. They were 8 and 12. Still one of our best memories.
Chile still has one chance to appeal and then it is TAS, which I would say it is difficult to say what they can rule…. I think this is far from over
Oh well we knew that was going to happen. There is the Euro and 2026 world cup to look forward too.
Even if there was a strong case against Ecuador, Italy would never have been given their place, even if the rules permitted it, as FIFA wouldn’t want to make it more difficult for the hosts to progress to the next round…