QUITO, Ecuador.- The controversy surrounding Ecuadorian footballer Byron Castillo has intensified following two significant developments. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) cited Jaine Jara's conclusion about irregularities in Castillo's birth registration, an issue central to the case of the former Barcelona SC player.

Moreover, a recently released audio by the Daily Mail purportedly reveals Castillo admitting that he was not born in Ecuador, but in Tumaco, Colombia. These revelations have upheld the decision to deduct three points from Ecuador in the current World Cup qualifiers.

Francisco Egas, the head of the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF), addressed the issue, stating in an interview with La Red, "Ecuadorian justice has determined that Byron Castillo is Ecuadorian, and he should be issued an identity card and passport. The Civil Registry couldn't prove otherwise, leading to a ruling in the player's favor."

Egas emphasized that the FEF did not interfere in the matter, relying instead on the decision of the Ecuadorian justice system. He lamented the lack of respect for Ecuador's sovereignty in this situation, asserting that Castillo did not play with false documents, and the country's justice system accepted all the evidence presented, confirming his Ecuadorian nationality.

However, the situation worsened when the mentioned audio was released, deepening the controversy over Castillo's nationality. In the audio, Castillo is heard discussing with Colonel Jara, admitting to his Colombian birth and discussing his birth date and place of origin, contradicting his official Ecuadorian records.

This scandal has not only impacted Castillo's career but also the Ecuadorian national team, which lost three points in the qualifiers due to the questionable nationality of the player. The controversy extends beyond the pitch, with the Mexican Football Federation reportedly asking Pachuca not to field Castillo amidst this nationality debacle.

As the situation unfolds, the future of Byron Castillo remains uncertain, both for his national team involvement and his professional career, as the controversy continues to cast a shadow over Ecuadorian football.