An extensive novel was the one that took place in 2022 after the National Association of Professional Football of Chile (ANFP) tried to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar through administrative channels.

The Araucanian Football Organization has filed a complaint with FIFA over alleged irregularities regarding Byron Castillo’s citizenship.

In the first instance, the ruling entity ruled strongly in favor of Ecuador, and then the Chileans went, this time together with Peru, to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) to resolve the dispute.

In November 2022, TAS ruled against the player and the FEF. A fine of $100,000 fell on the entity and the loss of 3 points in the qualification table for the 2026 World Cup.

As for the player, the arbitral tribunal found that, although he was entitled to play the match, “FEF breached Article 21 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code by using a document that contained false information.”

In the end, Peru and Chile were left without the World Cup, the placement they sought through administrative channels and that was a reason for ridicule, especially on the side of the Araucanians.

One of the “affected” is Chilean defender Franz Schultz, who plays for Cipolletti, in Argentina’s third league.

Did it happen to you that your teammates annoy you because of the bad moment that La Roja has been having for several years?, they asked the footballer.

“Yes (laughs). That was the first joke they played on me. Because of Byron Castillo’s question, they told me ‘you can’t ask for the World Cup by the secretary’, but I take it with humor,” he answered in an interview with the newspaper AS.

“It is still difficult for a Chilean to be in Argentina, especially in the Argentine dressing room, because it is rarely seen, but I have nothing to say. They received me very well. I have only words of praise,” he concluded. (D)