Seven countries that have been banned from playing in the Fifa World Cup in past amid Ecuador passport scandal

Joshua Mbu

Published: 11:51, 14 Sep 2022
Updated: 12:08, 14 Sep 2022

IT takes some doing to be BANNED from playing in the Fifa World Cup - but a few have managed it and Ecuador could become the latest.

The South American nation sealed a spot at the 2022 tournament in Qatar after finishing fourth in their World Cup qualifying group.

The World Cup starts in November but Ecuador might be blocked from competingCredit: Reuters

Ecuador's Byron Castillo is embroiled in fake passport allegations, putting his country's World Cup spot in doubtCredit: AFP

But a complaint was made to Fifa against Ecuador by the Chilean FA in April.

Chile have claimed Bryon Castillo used a fake birth certificate and was an illegal immigrant.

Castillo has ten caps for Ecuador and helped them reach the finals.

The Chilean FA stated Castillo was, in fact, born in Colombia in 1995 instead of Ecuador in 1998.

Germany & Japan - 1950 World Cup

Wars have consequences.

The 1942 and 1946 World Cups were cancelled due to World War II, but the tournament returned in 1950.

However, Germany and Japan were not allowed to be involved due to their role in the six-year global conflict.

South Americans Uruguay went on to win the tournament, beating Brazil 2-1 in their own back yard.

Sweden finished third and Spain fourth.

Uruguayan forward Juan Alberto Schiaffino scoring in the 1950 finalCredit: AFP

South Africa - 1961-1992

South Africa introduced its first racist policy in sport in 1956.

Leagues had been divided by race, and black-owned football clubs were officially not recognised as equal members to white-owned clubs, according to .

And in 1961, during apartheid, South Africa were expelled from Fifa.

They were reinstated in 1963, but expelled again after proposing to send an all-white national team to play in the England 1966 World Cup and a Black national team to play in the Mexico 1970 World Cup.

South Africa were reinstated in 1992, a move motivated by the government's release of all political prisoners and the open negotiation process of all political parties in the country.

Fifa would later hand South Africa the 2010 World Cup - becoming the first African country to host the tournament.

Mexico - 1990 World Cup

A two-year ban saw Mexico miss out on Italia 90.

Mexico were banned by Fifa after fielding four players that were above the age limit in the qualifying round of the world junior tournament.

West Germany went on to win the tournament, beating Argentina in the final.

Host nation Italy finished third, followed by England in fourth.

West Germany went on to win the 1990 World Cup... a tournament Mexico were banned fromCredit: Getty

Chile - 1994 World Cup

Chile goalkeeper Roberto Rojas pretended to be hurt by a flare thrown by a fan during a clash with Brazil in 1989.

But it was Rojas who hurt himself, using a hidden blade in his glove.

As a result, Fifa banned Chile from the 1994 tournament and Rojas was banned for life.

The World Cup held in the States went on to be won by Brazil, who beat Italy in the final.

Brazilian forward Romario kisses the FIFA World Cup trophy after 1994 winCredit: AFP

Myanmar - 2006 World Cup

Myanmar pulled out of a 2002 World Cup qualifying match that was scheduled to be played in Iran.

Fifa fined Myanmar £20,000 and banned them from competing in the 2006 edition of the tournament held in Germany.

Italy went on to claim their fourth world crown, beating France on penalties in a game which saw Zinedine Zidane sent off for a headbutt on Marco Materazzi.