~snip~
Wow, I just read that it is about eight appearances. Usually I think these appeals also destroy sports, but rules must be rules. If we didn't have rules, we wouldn't have sports. That is the counterside. Now this is a complicated case.
Honest opinion: How would you guys decide this case given the rules that are in place?
In my view it seems that the documentation provided clearly shows the player is Colombian and not Ecuadorian.
Not sure what else is there to consider though, but it looks like FIFA has decided the player is Ecuadorian.
That's the main thing though, if the player is Ecuadorian, nothing is wrong, but if he's really Colombian, then of course the standard match forfeit should be done.
Maybe the legality of the documents
are not the area of FIFA to make a decision, and legal or not, it seems that the documents show he's Ecuadorian.
I think you raised a very valid point here! The FIFA is probably not in the position to make any legal decisions. They act according to what is said to be his nationality as per his legal documentation. Now if it is wrong, the FIFA is still fine as that will be a case that needs to be investigated by authorities.
But you know what would really be a polarizing bomb? Imagine the guy scores a decisive goal in a match and sends home another team and then after the World Cup it turns out at court that the documentation was indeed wrong. My lord I think that would raise tons of discussion.
The FIFA does not really have any other choice here then to accept what counts right now. The reverse situation would be just as bad if they exclude a whole nation from the tournament and it turns out the allegations were wrong...