Ecuador are facing a FIFA charge over chants made by their supporters during their 2-0 win over Qatar in the World Cup opener on Sunday (November 20).
FIFA’s disciplinary committee confirmed it has opened proceedings against the Ecuadorian Football Association on the basis of article 13 of its disciplinary code. This article penalises for "offending the dignity or integrity of a country, a person or a group with derogatory, discriminatory or insulting words".
The chants in question are understood to have been directed towards Chile, who had brought a legal case against them prior to the tournament over an alleged ineligible player, Byron Castillo. Chile claimed that Castillo is actually Colombian and should not have played in World Cup qualifying games and therefore challenged Ecuador’s place at the World Cup.
FIFA judges, though, comprehensively rejected the Chilean football federation's entire case. "At no point did (Chile) provide ‘cogent evidence’ that the documents related to the individual born in Colombia indeed relate to the player,” the judges ruled, referring to documents that Chile said they had that proved he was never eligible to play for Ecuador.
In an unrelated incident, Ecuador fans chanted “we want beer” during the match in protest at organisers’ belated decision to ban the consumption of alcohol at games.
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