‘We have already presented our response and the supporters’: the arguments presented by Ecuador before FIFA to defend the inclusion of Byron Castillo

Ecuador is playing all its cards to defend its qualification for the World Cup in Qatar. The Guayas Federation, chaired by Francisco Egas, submitted to the FIFA Disciplinary Unit the arguments in support of the legitimacy of the inclusion of Byron Castillo the Barcelona side of Guayaquil which has opened the possibility for Chile to present a complaint which, eventually, can lead to its classification for the planetary appointment by administrative means.

It will be this department of the rector of world football in charge of solving the various tests that are put on the table. In the Chilean case, a few days ago the legal team commanded by the Brazilian lawyer Eduardo Carlezzo filed the complaint, together with the supporting documentation. The same was done by Peru, who were called in as a third speaker, given that the eventual determinations could lead to moves in the playoff table different from those that Chile is considering. That is to say, possibly with those of Rímac directly accessing the World Cup and not through the playoffs, that Colombia could play.

“We have already presented our answer and the supports. About them we will talk only in the process “, confirms Carlos Manzur, vice-president of the FEF, to El Deportivo.

The senior manager quips about how long it will take to settle. “According to what the Chilean media published, FIFA said it would resolve the first instance on June 10. Then we won’t have to wait long “, he raises, in a critical position that he has already expressed on other occasions. So, yes, analyze the situation more carefully. “It makes sense that they don’t take the usual time, especially if the case is clear, but four days seems short to me “, he argues. Finally, he emphasizes that in this sense, the information is only official. “At least that’s what the media said. We have not received any official notification “, he specifies.

“I have no doubt that there will be justice in all aspects and an apology is not enough for me”, with these words, Gustavo Alfaro settled the question of Byron Castillo during the press conference he offered on Saturday. In Ecuador, the speech is unique: everything is in order. This is what they express publicly again and again. “You live in a different reality,” Carlos Manzur, vice-president of the Ecuadorian FA, told El Deportivo. However, with a case of this size in the hands of FIFA, it is clear that the arguments they present must be solid. The situation has already exploded.

The positions collide. On the one hand, there is the ANFP, represented by Eduardo Carlezzo, a lawyer who has repeatedly stated that with his investigation he has no doubts that Castillo is not Ecuadorian. “I am convinced that he is Colombian. I can say this from a personal point of view. The documentation is quite solid and comprehensive in this regard. When we collected and saw what was done, a lot of research. The subject was of the total and absolute knowledge of the Ecuadorian federation”, he told La Tercera in early May. A month later, this is the official position of the Chilean football governing body.

On the other, the FEF, which defends itself with the same argument from day one: civil status documents and approval from the authorities. Although Castillo was selected as an Ecuadorian in the Under-17 and Under-20 categories, even being captain in the former, Doubts about his nationality, existing long before the Chilean complaint, prevented his technicians from calling him.

Just 2021 debuted the Adult Tricolor Jacket. It was against Paraguay in the Qualifiers towards Qatar. The game against Chile in Quito was his second appearance. The duel against La Roja in San Carlos de Apoquindo? The sixth. One of Ecuador’s arguments is that it waited so many years to appoint him. They ensure that the simple fact of having the authorization and the relevant documentation has been included.

“Where was Byron Castillo born?” Eduardo Carlezzo was asked, “In Tumaco, Colombia”, he answered confidently. In Ecuador, the ratification of his nationality by the authorities was enough for him to be summoned.

Why did the justice of this country decide that he was Ecuadorian? In 2018, the same footballer initiated a Habeas Data against the General Directorate of Civil Registry of Ecuador. This is to erase an observation in his identity file which indicated “invalid identity card due to a ticket”, which the Constitution of this country allows.

Despite this, for the Chilean position, it is not enough. The ANFP lawyer insisted that “andThe scope of Habeas Data is limited by the Constitution and laws of Ecuador, but there has been no legal assessment of evidence related to fraud in the birth certificate”.

Since the Castillo affair took off in the media, the Ecuadorian national team have turned the top scorer into their main face. Many publications on social networks are now made with the image of the footballer in question. Strange measure considering that he is a player with only nine games in the body at national team level, but normal if what they are looking for is to transmit tranquility to their fans.

However, in what is strictly leadership, the signal they have given is not one that demonstrates the calm they seek to display. Indeed, on May 20, the Ecuadorian federation requested a 15-day extension to defend itself before FIFA. So that this Monday only, they presented their arguments before the body which governs international football. A few days before the official judgment is rendered, scheduled for this Friday.

Of course, on the playing field, the signs are also there to show that everything is under control. Last Thursday, during a friendly match between Ecuador and Nigeria, the coach Gustavo Alfaro decided to give the side minutes. He ushered him onto the pitch and once inside he received a standing ovation. In addition, this Saturday the coach spoke on the subject. “We met on time and in good shape,” he said of the footballer’s appointment in mid-2021.

From April 26 to today, the Castillo case has gained momentum. At first it seemed like a distant rumour, but as the days went by and the antecedents appeared, the ANFP decided to act on the matter. The presence of Eduardo Carlezzo who had already secured points for the position of secretary for Chile, in the 2018 Russia Qualifiers, and a subsequent official complaint to FIFA, was a strong signal.

At that time, Byron Castillo himself posted messages on his social networks implying that for him it was only “noise”. Now the pressure has complicated the player a lot especially in the last three weeks.

As the case gained momentum in the media, different actors appeared. One of the first to speak was Carlos Manzur. “We are calm and ready to defend our interests. The rest we really leave it to the networks to have fun”, I signed up a little over a month ago. Then Pablo Milad, president of the ANFP, raised his voice, which issued various statements. “You have to drive the noise out of your mind by speaking the truth, to get rid of the burden you carry inside,” he once said.

Another of the voices was Byron Castillo’s agent, José Chamorro, who came to his client’s defense. “They want to arrive at the World Cup with abuse,” he said, without going into detail, since in the same interview he assured that the lawyers recommended him to speak on the subject.

The latest to refer to the case is Eduardo Berizzo, recently announced as Reds manager. In a measured tone, but with expectations, he stressed that going to the World Cup was an option for him and his team: “It is possible that there is a possibility. And if there is, our times will be shortened. Our process will be concentrated in November. At the beginning, or thinking of more time, our process will be four years, where the opportunity to observe football players will be greater. Otherwise, the deadline will be shortened to November,” he said.