The Ecuadorian team was the only Conmebol team to start the 2026 World Cup qualification with a negative result. La Tri had to start the trial with -3 points in the standings due to the sanction imposed by the TAS in connection with the Byron Castillo case. Fortunately for the fans, the victory over Uruguay in the second game corrected the penalty and the North team returned to the starting point, although there are already rumors about a possible new penalty against the North team.
In a recent article, Colombian newspaper El Tiempo warned of a possible “turnaround” for Ecuador in the qualifying rounds due to demands that the former coach, Gustavo Alfarofiled with the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF), as part of his claim for repayment.
“The coach who took ‘Tri’ to the World Cup is demanding some outstanding payments from the FEF, money that has been divided into several payments and which the coach is still not receiving. Given the non-compliance with the agreement. Conmebol is.” “I am aware of Alfaro’s situation and FIFA’s intervention. “The governing body of world football could punish Ecuador with a deduction of three to six points in the current duel if an agreement is not reached,” report the Bogotá media.
According to El Tiempo, Ecuador could face another sanction. Photo: Photo from El Tiempo
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President Francisco Egas of the FEF did not wait long to respond to this assumption. “There is no such message, it only applies if deadlines and conditions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee have been violated.” This case is still being contested by Alfaro himself. “There is still no firm decision or a defined deadline regarding the lawsuit,” said the manager in a dialogue with the Futbolecuador portal.
Can Ecuador lose points due to Gustavo Alfaro’s lawsuit?
Through social networks, Ecuadorian lawyer Mariela Díaz Aragón pointed out that, according to FIFA regulations, a possible penalty for deducting points does not apply to national teams, but to clubs.
“This sanction of deduction of points cannot exist because this sanction only applies to clubs and in the non-consensual case applied to the FEF there must be a firm decision that is enforceable. This means that all instances have been passed through in FIFA, and if necessary also in CAS,” the referee published.
Comment by lawyer Mariela Díaz Aragón. Photo: Photo of “X”
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For its part, the Argentine newspaper Olé contacted the lawyer Ariel Reck, whose assessment agreed with that of his colleague. “The sanction that exists for the associations is the confiscation of FIFA funds, the deduction of points is currently not an option.” Furthermore, since FIFA confiscates funds as a first measure, if Ecuador does not pay, it will be indirectly exposed to the embargoes pay. I don’t think it makes sense to deduct points for this matter,” said the sports law expert.