FIFA have summoned Byron Castillo to attend Thursday's hearing of their Appeals Commission following Sportsmail's bombshell revelations that the Ecuador international confessed to being born in Colombia in an official investigation four years ago.
The president of the Chilean FA, Pablo Milad, welcomed Sportsmail's publication of Castillo's interview with investigators in which he admitted to using a false birth certificate, but the player's lawyer claimed the new evidence was not admissible as the row between the two countries escalated.
FIFA also responded to the story by sending an updated request to the Ecuador Football Federation [FEF] for Castillo to attend the hearing in Zurich, writing that 'the Ecuadorian Football Association is requested to ensure that the player Byron David Castillo Segura is made available and attends'.
Their previous communication with FEF had said Ecuador are 'requested to ensure, in the best extent possible' that Castillo attend, which FIFA sources confirmed represented a significant change of emphasis.
Castillo has never publicly discussed his birth or background, although the evidence he gave to an Investigative Commission set up by FEF in 2018 appears clear.
In an audio recording published by Sportsmail on Monday, Castillo gives a name and birth date matching his Colombian certificate, and details moving from Tumaco to San Lorenzo in Ecuador to pursue a professional career, also naming a businessman he claimed provided him with a new birth certificate.
Byron Castillo (left) played against Chile in World Cup qualifying and they could be given two 3-0 victories if he is found to have been ineligible
The name of Byron Castillo was given on the Ecuadorian birth certificate (left), while his real name of Bayron Javier Castillo Segura is on the Colombian birth certificate (right)
FIFA have summoned Castillo to attend Thursday's hearing of their Appeals Commission
Castillo's apparent confession could result in Ecuador being kicked out of the World Cup just two months before they are due to face Qatar in the tournament's opening fixture.
Chile would replace Ecuador if FIFA followed recent precedent by awarding them two 3-0 victories for the matches in which Castillo played against them, although in other possible scenarios Peru or Italy could also be handed a back-door entry to the World Cup.
CFA president Milad claimed on Tuesday that the new evidence vindicated Chile's claim.
'This recording substantiates that our claim and complaint is correct,' he said.
'From the player's mouth, he recognises his nationality and everything he did.
This strengthens our position. It is an external proof that we did not have within the evidence that we presented, but it consolidates the case and shows truth in our complaint.
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'Now, we will wait for what the appeals chamber decides with this subpoena that we have on September 15. I hope the player goes. I believe that he cannot deny what he himself said and the accusations that he has made against the Ecuadorian federation.
'We did not have the direct background of this audio, we are surprised and happy that this recording has come out.
We did have a history that this player was Colombian and that he deceived the whole world.'
A lawyer for the Chilean FA, Eduardo Carlezzo, confirmed that the interview with Castillo was not part of the evidence they presented to FIFA when their case was dismissed at the initial hearing in June, but that it would be submitted this week.
Police are hunting two burglars who broke into the home of Barcelona midfielder Arthur and reportedly threatened his brother with a weapon.
The break-in happened during Barcelona's 3-0 Champions League semi-final first leg victory against Liverpool on Wednesday night.
The two criminals are understood to have taken valuables including jewellery and a Rolex watch.
The home of Barcelona player Arthur (pictured) was targeted by burglars on Wednesday night
Arthur pictured with the Spanish league trophy after Barcelona clinched the title last weekend
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A spokesman for the regional Mossos d'Esquadra police force, asked about reports Arthur Melo's home had been targeted, confirmed officers were investigating a break-in at a house in the upmarket Barcelona neighbourhood of Pedralbes.
The spokesman added: 'We would not say who lives at the property. All I can confirm is that we are investigating a break-in and robbery at an address in Pedralbes.'
Arthur, 22, did not take part in Wednesday's game and watched his side win from the substitutes' bench.
Local reports said his unnamed brother returned home around 11pm after the match to find two masked men in the house, who put a weapon similar to a screwdriver to his throat and forced him to open a safe with valuables inside.
There were no reports of any injuries.
A number of top football stars in Spain have been targeted by criminals who broke into their homes while they were on footballing duty.
Arthur in action against Paul Pogba during Barcelona's win over Manchester United last month
In February, burglars broke into former Premier League star Kevin Prince Boateng's rented home in the upmarket Barcelona neighbourhood of Sarria and took around £250,000 of valuables and cash as he was playing against Valladolid.
As well as watches and jewellery, the burglars are also believed to have taken cash.
It later emerged it was the same house targeted by criminals last November when Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba was living there, and was on his way to Italy for a Champions League tie against Inter Milan.
In June last year burglars broke into the luxury home of Barcelona star Gerard Pique and his singer partner Shakira.
The footballer's parents were said to have been asleep inside the mansion in Esplugues de Llobregat near Barcelona when the break-in occurred. They were unharmed.
Benin's government has put up a statue to represent the historic female warriors known as the Amazones of Dahomey
Benin's historic female warriors known as the Amazons of Dahomey are legendary across West Africa, but a Hollywood production is bringing them back into the limelight.
The Woman King, released last Friday and shown at one Cotonou's few cinemas on Saturday, is inspired by the story of the Agojie women who protected the ancient Kingdom of Dahomey and fought against French colonial troops in the 19th century.
The main character General Nanisca is played by the Oscar-winning American actress Viola Davis, who trains the next generation of recruits against a rival African kingdom and European slave traders.
The production directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and mainly filmed in South Africa has won praise for its leading roles for black actresses, but has also generated criticism that it glorifies slavery.
At the premiere in Benin's economic capital, a descendant of Ghezo, a King of Dahomey, who attended the screening at Canal Olympia cinema, shed tears during the viewing.
"For the princess that I am, some of the scenes were very touching. These brave women gave their lives to protect Ghezo's heritage, which is my own," said 37-year-old Sylvine Senami Ghezo.
A younger viewer, 15-year-old Bahunde Efanam, was also emotional and said the film gave her "shivers".
The Amazons of Dahomey have been celebrated many times before, including in the 2018 film Black Panther in which they inspired Wakanda's Dora Milaje warriors.
More recently, Benin's President Patrice Talon unveiled a giant 30-metre high bronze statue representing an Amazon in central Cotonou.
The government said it chose the figure as a symbol of national identity and key part of its history to showcase in a bid to attract tourists.
- Tourism -
Made by Chinese artist Li Xiangqun, "the statue will be, for us and those who visit, a symbol of the Beninese woman of yesterday, today and tomorrow", the president said of the display in July.
"What is important is that in Benin, the words courage, bravery, strength, combativenesses and honour are not exclusively associated with men," said the president.
For those working in the nation's budding tourism industry like Achille Remy Yelouassi who was at the premiere, the hope is also that films like The Woman King "help put Benin on the map".
Some though said the next film should be made in Benin and not Hollywood since it concerns the country's history.
In the United States, some have criticised the movie for not addressing the role Dahomey Kingdom played in the slave trade.
#Boycottwomanking has been trending on Twitter.
But for some Beninese women, the film can also help tackle issues around women's rights according to Senami Totin, a lawyer and activist in the country.
"In a patriarchal society like we have in Benin, you need a lot of courage and determination to defend women's rights," she said, listing challenges from impunity for rape, forced marriages, exclusion of women from inheritance rights, and a lack of representation in politics.
"We no longer have to fight wars against enemy armies but the fight for women's emancipation is a daily one, and for that, we have to have an Amazon spirit," she added.
In addition to celebrating the Beninese woman, actress Viola Davis said she hopes the film also inspires young girls around the world.
"It´s for my six-year old self... the little girl who was traumatised, the little girl who was called ugly, the little girl who wasn´t seen, who was left invisible," she told reporters before the Toronto premiere earlier this month.
"I see you Viola. I see every chocolate girl who is like you. I´m telling you to stop running. This is my gift to you."
Im Sung-Jae was eight when he beat his father on the golf course for the first time. And his dad's not bad at golf.
Proudly wearing the white boiler suit of the Augusta caddie — No 37 — he carried his son's bag in the traditional par-three tournament earlier this week.
Given a hit at the ninth, Im Ji-taek nailed his tee shot to an island green within five feet of the pin.
Im Sung-Jae (above) was eight when he beat his father on the golf course for the first time
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Big smiles and high fives all round. Sung-jae's laughter suggested an element of surprise. Let's just say it's not the most textbook swing.
Im's parents used to follow him, hotel to hotel, when he lived an initially nomadic existence on the PGA Tour.
In 2020, he bought a house in Atlanta. The following March, Robert Aaron Long was arrested after a shooting spree in the city in which eight people were killed including six Asian women, with spas and massage parlours being specifically targeted.
It is not easy being Asian in America in the age of ‘kung flu'. Violence against Asian-Americans has risen to such an extent that it was the subject of a Congressional hearing as recently as March 21.
Im's lead at the Masters is a juxtaposition to the violence against Asian-Americans in the US
A Republican representative from Texas contrived to invoke lynching as having made a positive contribution to society but, that apart, most got the message.
In 2020 and 2021, after the coronavirus pandemic, recorded violence against Asians and Asian Americans rose by 11 times on previous years.
Into this hostile environment steps Im, and the other Asian competitors at the Masters. It's quite the juxtaposition.
The reigning Masters champion is Hideki Matsuyama, the first Japanese player to win a major.
The champions dinner included yakitori skewers, sushi and Wagyu beef.
At Augusta, the patrons are very polite and respectful because this is America on its best behaviour, with not even running allowed, let alone the boorishness of some galleries.
Reigning champion Hideki Matsuyama was the first Japanese player to win a major
Yet it's also fantasy land.
Atlanta is just a two-hour drive away, and the logo of the Masters is a representation of the state of Georgia. After the 2021 shootings the LPGA — in which 29 of the top 50 players are either Asian or of Asian descent — contacted its entire roster to advise caution when venturing outside the tour bubble at tournaments.
Choi Na-yeon, a former US Open winner from South Korea, said she advised her mother not to travel to America for tournaments, as she wouldn't feel safe with her there.
Last year, Mike Whan, the former LPGA commissioner, said there had been incidents involving Asian players away from tournament venues during his tenure, some necessitating security involvement.
Making Im's presence at the top of the leaderboard for long periods as he made his way around Augusta on Friday important.
Asian-American relations need normalising right now and Im is a normal guy, beyond his exceptional golf game.
The MP who replaced former prime minister Tony Abbott is being petitioned to install a string of wind turbines along one of Sydney's most iconic beaches.
The petition on #WindFarmsForWarringah change.org was launched three days ago and pleads with newly-elected independent Zali Steggall, whose campaign had a heavy focus on fighting the effects of climate change, to 'give the electorate what they voted for'.
'Zali Steggall and the people of Warringah need to show leadership on immediate climate change ACTION,' the tongue-in-cheek petition reads.
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The new MP for Warringah Zali Steggall, who campaigned with a heavy focus on global warming, is being petitioned for wind turbines to be put along one of Sydney's iconic beaches
'The proposal: wind turbines are to be placed along the foreshore, taking advantage of the sea breezes.
'Let's lead the way by example, for everyone who voted against climate action. Sign and spread the petition Australians! Let's do it for the children!'
The mocking petition is just hundreds of votes away from reaching the intended goal of 15,000.
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One person who signed the petition said they wanted to see Ms Steggall and the people of Warringah 'put their money where their mouth is'.
'I feel leaders should lead by example, sacrifices have to be made for climate change, so who better to start the process than Zali Steggall and her constituents seeing as they are most passionate about it,' one wrote.
Another person criticised Warringah for electing Ms Steggall ahead of Mr Abbott.
The petition on change.org was launched three days ago and pleads with the newly-elected independent
'They deserve to have these monstrosities after voting in Zali and rejecting Tony Abbott,' they wrote.
Mr Abbott is a known for his skeptical views on the science of climate change.
Even in April - during his campaign for the federal election - he reiterated his views.
'The so-called settled science is not quite as settled as people say and that's my position,' Mr Abbott said, according to the 'Nevertheless, we've only got one planet. We should do what we reasonably can to rest lightly upon it'.
On Friday, Mr Abbott was surrounded by climate change protesters who tried to shame him by shouting at him.
Tony Abbott held the seat of Warringah for 25 years before Saturday's election
Mr Abbott is a known for his skeptical views on the science of climate change. Even in April - during his campaign for the federal election - he reiterated his views. Pictured: On Friday, Mr Abbott was surrounded by climate change protesters