Chilean complaint against Ecuador’s qualification for the 2022 World Cup was denied by FIFA.

FIFA rejected Chile’s claim that Ecuador’s Byron Castillo was Colombian and ineligible to compete in tournament qualifying. Castillo made eight appearances for Ecuador. FIFA’s appeal panel ruled that the player has permanent Ecuadorian nationality based on the documentation given.

The judgment supports a FIFA disciplinary ruling from June and will likely be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Ecuador will play the hosts in Doha on Nov. 20. Group A includes the Netherlands and Senegal.

Chile can keep suing. The Chilean football federation plans to appeal FIFA’s verdict to sport’s high court, CAS in Lausanne, Switzerland, which can hold an urgent hearing and decide before the World Cup.

Jorge Yunge, general secretary of the Chilean Football Federation, called it a “sad day for football”

“A player who helped Ecuador qualify for the World Cup said he was born in Colombia and lied to get an Ecuadorian passport. He declined to testify before FIFA. What does it say about the appeals committee that they don’t act?

We will send this to the Court of Arbitration for Sport since the evidence is obvious, and we ask the appeal committee to produce the grounds of the judgement swiftly because there have been too many delays and postponements.

Chile said Castillo is Colombian and shouldn’t have represented Ecuador.

Chile prepared its lawsuit after FIFA and Qatari organisers sold thousands of tickets and lodgings to Ecuador fans.

Eduardo Carlezzo, counsel for the Chilean Football Federation, has never seen an injustice like this.

“Numerous records indicate the player was born in Colombia. Everyone heard his confession during an Ecuadorian Federation probe. The athlete also didn’t attend a hearing, but it had no effect. More?

“Whatever we file won’t be enough to validate the claim. Football and fair play suffered today. Cheating is OK. We’ll ask CAS.”

Had Ecuador forfeited Castillo’s eight games, Chile would have been fourth in South American qualifying. Ecuador was eliminated.

FIFA’s legal regulations cover national team eligibility when a state grants citizenship.

Statutes provide that anybody with permanent, non-residency-dependent nationality can play for a country’s national team.

Only three judges attended Thursday’s appeal hearing from Zurich. Neil Eggleston, Obama’s second White House lawyer, oversaw the case as chief judge.

FIFA’s appeals committee seldom overturns disciplinary committee rulings.

In back-to-back World Cup qualifiers, Chile has complained against an opponent’s player.

Bolivia forfeited two World Cup qualifying games for using an ineligible substitute. Chile and Peru complained to FIFA over Bolivian defender Nelson Cabrera, who was born in Paraguay.

Bolivia lost an appeal at CAS, which concluded FIFA had right to probe weeks after the games.

It hurt Chile. Three extra points helped Peru beat Chile and progress to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

FIFA required all 2022 World Cup qualifiers to provide a “valid permanent international passport” to match officials.