Ecuador is at risk of missing the 2022 FIFA World Cup after audio and documents revealed one of its players, Byron Castillo admitted to using a false birth certificate.
The Chilean FA lodged an official complaint to FIFA in April 2022, accusing Castillo of falsifying his birth documents adding g that he was an illegal immigrant.
On September 12, Sportsmail published an audio recording interview Castillo gave to investigators four years ago.
Also Read: Tuchel's Emotional Statement Days After Being Fired
Byron Castillo played eight times as Ecuador qualified for the 2022 World Cup. However, new evidence emerged showing that Castilo admitted he was not Colombian.
In the recording, Castilo states that he was born in 1995 contrary to what is on his Ecuadorian birth certificate (1998).
He also stated his full name as Bayron Javier Castillo Segura which matched the details of his Colombian birth certificate but not on the Ecuador certificate, Byron David Castillo Segura.
The footballer further alleged that he left the Colombian city of Tumaco for San Lorenzo in Ecuador to pursue a career in football.
He claimed that an Ecuadorian businessman provided him with a new identity. This new revelation could alter the first match as host Qatar is expected to open the tournament with Chile.
The Appeals Commission is due to rule on the matter on Thursday, September 15.
Also Read: Popular Kenyan Comedian Nominated for West African Sports Personality of the Year Award