Castillo skips FIFA hearing
CHILE’S hopes of securing an extraordinary last-minute ticket to the World Cup were boosted yesterday when Ecuador’s Byron Castillo failed to attend a FIFA hearing into his nationality. FIFA had ordered Castillo to turn up for the hearing, which was conducted remotely by three judges from Zurich, after Sportsmail published an audio recording earlier this week of the Ecuador international revealing birth details which matched his Colombian birth certificate. Castillo was not willing to submit to cross-examination from the judges, however, leaving Ecuador FA officials to argue his case. 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 Qatar tournament just nine weeks away, they are expected to announce their decision within days. Chile could take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if FIFA rule against them but are running out of time.