FIFA demand answers from Ecuador star with ‘false ID’

Chile eye World Cup spot after our bombshell revelations

FEcuador could face World Cup boot as star ‘admits false ID’ Exclusive:c Sportsmail yesterday

IFA have summoned Byron Castillo to attend tomorrow’s appeals commission hearing following Sportsmail’s revelation that the Ecuador star confessed to being born in Colombia.

The president of the Chilean FA, Pablo Milad, yesterday welcomed Sportsmail’s publication of Castillo’s interview with investigators four years ago, in which he admitted using a false birth certificate.

But the player’s lawyer claims the new evidence is not admissible as the row between the countries escalates.

Chile would replace Ecuador if FIFA follow precedent by awarding them two 3-0 victories for the matches in which Castillo played against them in South American qualifying.

In other scenarios, Peru or Italy could be handed a back- door entry to the World Cup.

FIFA also responded to our story by sending an updated request to the Ecuador FA yesterday for Castillo to attend the hearing in Zurich, writing that ‘ the Ecuadorian FA is requested to ensure that the player is made available and attends’.

Their previous communication with the Ecuador FA only ‘ requested to ensure, in the best extent possible’ that Castillo attend, which FIFA sources confirmed represented a significant escalation of emphasis. Castillo has never publicly discussed his background, although the evidence he gave to an investigative commission set up by the Ecuador FA appears clear-cut.

In an audio recording published by Sportsmail yesterday, he gives a name and birth date matching his Colombian certificate and details moving from Tumaco in Colombia to San Lorenzo in Ecuador to pursue a professional career, as well as naming a businessman he claimed provided him with a new birth certificate.

Castillo’s apparent confession could result in Ecuador being kicked out of the World Cup just two months before they are due to face Qatar in the tournament’s opening game.

A lawyer for the Chilean FA, Eduardo Carlezzo, confirmed the interview with Castillo was not part of the evidence presented to FIFA when their case was dismissed at an initial hearing in June.

‘We knew this audio existed, because it was clearly mentioned in official papers, but we were unaware of its content,’ Carlezzo said.

‘ The recording validates everything we have said since the beginning of this case.

‘Clearly this now needs to be submitted as evidence to FIFA’s appeals committee before Thursday’s hearing.’

Chilean FA president Milad welcomed the new evidence and claimed it proved Castillo had deceived the world.

‘This recording substantiates that our claim and complaint is correct,’ he said. ‘ From the player’s mouth, he recognises his nationality and everything he did. This strengthens our position.

‘It is external proof that we did not have within the evidence that we presented, but it consolidates the case and shows truth in our complaint.

‘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.’

Castillo’s lawyer Andres Holguin claimed the evidence was irrelevant because it had not been submitted to the original hearing.

‘ The audio circulating is nothing new,’ he said. ‘ In addition, a constitutional judge did not consider it as evidence since it could not be certified it was from Castillo.’

‘We are surprised and happy this recording has come out. This player was Colombian and deceived the whole world’