Trouble grows: Byron Castillo injured in Madrid

The Ecuadorian player Byron Castillo, a great protagonist of his team in recent months because Chile and Peru requested his irregular alignment considering that he was born in Colombia, withdrew from the field of play on the 35 minutes of today’s match against Ecuador against Iraq at the Cívitas Metropolitano in Madrid.

Right-back Byron Castillo received a hard tackle from below with both feet, from Iraqi Alai Hussain as he rushed the baseline. After being treated for several minutes by doctors when his left leg was caught in the action, he had to retire to the changing rooms. His place was taken by Robert Arboleda.

The ambassador’s words

A Byron Castillo who, according to the Ecuadorian ambassador in Qatar said a few hours before, is not in the final list of coach Gustavo Alfaro for the World Cup and that he will announce on Monday, a day before the trip to Doha.

“Unfortunately, Byron Castillo is not coming. It would be the finishing touch for Byron to come and score a goal, but unfortunately, the news to us is that he is not coming,” said Pascual Del Cioppo in an interview on the television program. ‘Hechos de Impacto’.

According to the diplomat, “this is a decision made by the Federation, likely to avoid future problems” with the Mexican Lion player, protagonist of a battle in the offices between Ecuador, Chile and Peru on the authenticity of the documents where he was registered as Ecuadorian when, in reality, they claimed, he was born in Colombia.

TAS is confirmed in Ecuador

Finally, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) on Tuesday confirmed Ecuador’s presence in the World Cup while allowing the ‘tri’ to lose three points for the next South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Unconcerned by the whole situation, Alfaro made him the starter, but he only played the first 35 minutes of the game. The extent of the injury remains to be seen and if, as stated by the ambassador, he will definitely not be in the squad for the World Cup.