If there was any dilemma about whether Ecuador will eventually play at the FIFA World Cup, there isn’t any after the FIFA dismissed a complaint filed by the Football Federation of Chile.Both Chile and Italy – who failed to qualify for the WC – hoped that Ecuador would be disqualified due to irregularities. They claimed that Byron Castillo – who played in eight of Ecuador’s qualifiers – was actually Colombian and faked his age.The Divine Ponytail finds it not divine at all that Azzurri won’t see the World CupHowever, world football’s governing body said on Friday that after “considering all elements”, it had decided to “close proceedings” against the Ecuadorian Football Federation.”The present decision remains subject to an appeal before the Fifa Appeal Committee,” it added.The decision confirms Ecuador’s place in Group A with hosts Qatar, Senegal and the Netherlands.The president of the Ecuadorian FA said the decision from FIFA meant “sporting justice has been done”.England seeks revenge against Italy in an empty stadiumFrancisco Egas said: “We celebrate it more because we felt humiliated. We felt trampled by the great media campaign from the Chilean federation.”Pablo Milad, the president of Chile’s football federation, said it would appeal and take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if required.”We are losing 1-0, but there is still the second half,” Milad said.”The FIFA ruling surprisingly did not favour us despite strong evidence. We will wait for the arguments and we will appeal.”SAT: 21.45: (1.99) ENGLAND (3.45) ITALY (4.40)They say that the right-back Castillo, who plays for Ecuadorian side Barcelona, used a false birth certificate and nationality.”There are innumerable proofs that the player was born in Colombia, in the city of Tumaco, on July 25, 1995, and not on November 10, 1998, in the Ecuadorian city of General Villamil Playas,” it read.UEFA NATIONS LEAGUELEAGUE A, ROUND 1TuesdayGermany – England 1-1 (0-0)/Hofmann 50 – Kane 88 pen/Italy – Hungary 2-1 (2-0)/Barella 30, Pellegrini 45 – Mancini 61 og/WednesdayBelgium – Poland 6-1 (1-1)/Witsel 42, De Bruyne 59, Trossard 73, 80, Dendoncker 83, Openda 90+3 – Lewandowski 28/Wales – Netherlands 1-2 (0-0)/Norrington-Davies 90+2 – Koopermeiners 50, Weghorst 90+4/ThursdayPortugal – Czech R. 2-0 (2-0)/Cancelo 33, Guedes 38/Switzerland – Spain 0-1 (0-1)/Sarabia 13/FridayAustria – France 1-1 (1-0)/Weimann 36 – Mbappe 83/Denmark – Croatia 0-1 (0-0)/Pašalić 69/Saturday21.45: (9.00) Hungary (4.90) Germany (1.40)21.45: (1.90) England (3.50) Italy (4.70)21.45: (4.40) Wales (3.50) Belgium (1.95)21.45: (1.48) Netherlands (4.50) Poland (7.75)Sunday21.45: (3.80) Switzerland (3.50) Portugal (2.10)21.45: (1.40) Spain (4.90) Czech R. (9.00)Monday21.45: (2.00) Denmark (3.50) Austria (4.10)21.45: (1.60) France (3.80) Croatia (7.25)Tuesday21.45: (1.32) England (5.40) Hungary (12.0)21.45: (1.85) Germany (3.70) Italy (4.60)***odds are subject to change
