File reveals audio that ultimately convicted Ecuador in Byron Castillo case

The controversy surrounding Byron Castillo does not stop. It is not necessary for when. Even the judgment of the Swiss Federal Court, which ratified the provisions of the CAS, the final instance of sporting justice, does not seem to put an end to the controversy. Ecuador remains ready to defend itself. The president of the football federation, Francisco Egas, says he is exploring new legal options, not even with the aim of recovering the three points lost during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but almost as a matter of honor and transparency .

In the meantime, the elements that the court took into account to ratify the provisions of sports justice continue to be revealed. And in this scenario, a document becomes relevant in which Castillo himself admits that he was born in the province of Tumaco, Colombia, and not in Ecuador. . This is the basis of the argument presented by Chile during its offensive, which ended in initial failure, but which at least produced concrete results.

During the process at FIFA, the investigation was mentioned several times. This corresponds to the findings of Colonel Jaine Jara (former president of the Ecuafútbol Commission of Inquiry, until January 2019). “There are irregularities in the registration of the birth of Castillo Segura player Byron David, of Ecuadorian nationality, born in the province of Guayas, town of General Villamil Playas, with date of birth November 10, 1998; since his real name is Castillo Segura Byron Javier, son of Castillo Ortiz Harrison Javier and Segura Ortiz Olga Eugenia, born June 25, 1995, born in Tumaco, Nariño », establish these investigations.

“Consulting the Colombian civil registry office, they indicate that the citizen Castillo Segura Bayron Javier, son of Castillo Ortiz Harrison Javier and Segura Ortiz Olga Eugenia of Colombian nationality, is registered in their computer system, being the same parents of the player. Castle Segura Byron David . Determining that we are faced with a series of irregularities, such as double identity, falsification of nationality and age,” he adds. Chile reached similar conclusions.

It was during these investigations that Castillo admitted to being born in Colombia. “The player (Castillo) expressly admitted in an interview with Colonel Jara that he was not born in Ecuador on November 10, 1998 under the name Byron David Castillo Segura, as indicated on his Ecuadorian passport, but on June 25, 1995 under the name Byron Javier Castillo Segura and who came to Ecuador from Tumaco, Colombia “, supports the arbitral award.

Judges Massimo Coccia (Italy), Romano Subiotto (Belgium), José María Alonso (Spain) and Francisco Larios (United States) validate the testimony published by the English newspaper Daily Mail.The audio recording of part of the player’s interview with Colonel Jara is not only admissible, but also reliable (…); the committee finds that the audio recording is admissible as evidence in this proceeding “, they declare.

What does Castillo say? Textually:

Castle: I came in, I didn’t know anything about how to fix this stuff. I didn’t know anything. They already told me this and that, we’re going to do this to you, we’re going to help you here and, I mean, I needed help because I came to want to help my family, all that. . You know what the situation is in Tumaco, all that. I arrived and well I started playing without any problems, erasing everything and now I saw that all the problems have increased.

Colonel Jara: But who did this with Marcos Zambrano? Do you know the person who took you to get the papers, the identity card?

Castle: I was always in the complex, that is, I was already a person, so they took me somewhere else, no never – they took me to be this, no, nothing. I think they work with other people, I don’t know how they work.

Colonel Jara: But Marcos Zambrano did all this to you… at the beginning?

Castle: He told me everything he was going to help me this and this and this.

Colonel Jara: But when were you born exactly?

Castle: In 95. Colonel Jara: 95?

Castle: Yeah.

Colonel Jara: And what year do you have on your ID card?

Castle: 98.

Colonel Jara: 98. What are your real names?

Castle: Byron Javier

Colonel Jara: Byron Javier

Castle: Ségur Castle

Colonel Jara: Ségura Castle. Already. How many brothers are there?

Castle: Two

Colonel Jara: You and…?

Castle: A sister

Colonel Jara: One of your sisters?

Castle: Yeah

Colonel Jara: And someone else?

Castle: Nobody else

Colonel Jara: And what’s your sister’s name?

Castle: Maria Eugenia

Colonel Jara: Already. Same dad and same mom?

Castle: Same dad and same mom.

Colonel Jara: Already. And what is your father’s name?

Castle: Harrinson Javier

Colonel Jara: Harrison Javier. And your mother?

Castle: Olga Eugenia Ortiz Ortiz, no, Segura Ortiz

Colonel Jara: Of course Ortiz, now. And do they know about the situation that Zambrano put you through?

Castle: Of course they know everything because at the beginning I played there and we played and we played. We crossed the border because our team had to because the teams there come from Tumaco to play San Lorenzo. Everyone is going through, going through. We did a few tests in San Lorenzo, I remember it so much. But during the tests that took place in San Lorenzo, I didn’t stay in any team and the teammate who stayed with me didn’t show up, so they told me I had to come.

Colonel Jara: And who was the one who didn’t show up?

Castle: He was another player and I had to stay. I arrived home, told my father that I had to come, but at that time there was no money in the house – I remember there was no ‘money. I was going to start crying because I wanted to and then my father told me no, not right away, another day. My mother was also worried, no, she didn’t want to do this or that. Me, worried. My father left around 7:00. He arrived home around 12:00 p.m. He arrived with money, 20,000 Colombian pesos. With that he arrives in San Lorenzo and until now I have stayed here.

Colonel Jara: And then Marcos Zambrano’s people were there?

Castle: Yes, all of them.

Colonel Jara: Those who went there and saw…?

Castle: Yes, the players were watching.

Colonel Jara: And over there?

Castle: And then I arrived here, at (club) America.

For the CAS, the testimonies constituted reliable evidence at the time of adoption of the determination.