DRAMA: Chile Is Trying To Get Ecuador Kicked Out Of The World Cup, Claiming They Used A Player Who Lied About Being Born In The Country
[Source] - Ecuador’s place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is at threat after Chile made a complaint to FIFA over an alleged ineligible player.
The Chilean Football Association claims that Byron Castillo (pictured), who plays for Ecuadorian club Barcelona, was born in Colombia and not in Ecuador, as it says on his documentation.
Chile also alleges that Castillo was born on July 25, 1995, and not on November 10, 1998, as stated in his records.
Oh hell yeah. This was the one thing missing so far for this World Cup. Allegations about cheating and lying and trying to get a rival kicked out of the World Cup. This is why soccer always delivers. Every day you wake up and there's some insane story. I mean this is Danny Almonte but you know, on the most popular sport in the world not the Little League World Series. Chile out here accusing Ecuador of using a player born in Colombia AND lying about when he was born? I love it. Win at all costs and that's what Chile is trying to do.
So why does this matter? Well, Ecuador finished ahead of Chile in CONMEBOL in order to qualify for the World Cup. And of course this is what would happen:
Ecuador also won four points from two matches against Chile in which Castillo featured. If Chile were awarded 3-0 wins for both, as was the case with Bolivia back in 2016, that would elevate them to 24 points — level with Peru, who finished fifth, but with a superior goal difference.
Chile would get a chance to play New Zealand for the right to go to the World Cup. I can't imagine this happening but I think I want it to happen now. Give me a spite bullshit World Cup berth. I mean it's bullshit Qatar is hosting the event, so might as well play into all the shenanigans.
Shit, this even happened before recently in CONMEBOL
In September 2016, FIFA sanctioned Bolivia for fielding an ineligible player, Nelson Cabrera, in 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Chile — who were subsequently awarded 3-0 wins.
South America can't avoid cheating drama. It's perfect. I keep saying it but soccer is just different in South America. It's quite literally life and death for some and they'll do anything to play in the World Cup. Good thing here is FIFA is absolutely not corrupt and will make decisions based on fairness. They won't be swayed by money one bit here. No sir. Not FIFA.
Think we need to get Chile and Ecuador play each other again. Need to see how feisty it gets.