Carlos Caszely, if Peru will go to the World Cup because of Byron Castillo: “I don’t think the TAS will disqualify Ecuador”

“Enjoying life”. This sums us up. Carlos Casselly his presence in Lima to see the duel between Peru and Chile for the Davis Cup and do some tourism in our capital. As in his time as a striker, the former Chilean national team spoke about the Byron Castillo case, the Peruvian national team, Alianza Lima and other topics.

-What happened to his life?

—My life was spent in sports, I studied and worked as a journalist, I was press attaché in Spain at one time and today I dedicate myself to the grandchildren watching a lot of football and enjoying life.

-What is the opinion on the claim that Chile and Peru made before FIFA for the Byron Castillo case?

—It’s a more managerial issue, games are won on the field, but many times there are extra-sports things that lead to mistakes such as a bad registration of a player. The procedure seems strange to me, but FIFA ruled in favor of Ecuador, which will go to the World Cup. I think Ecuador or the player could be fined, but not disqualified from the World Cup.

—Now Chile and Peru will go to the TAS, which is the last instance.

—A little before the start of the World Cup and with all the preparations, I see it as difficult, impossible.

– Would you celebrate if for those things of destiny the TAS agrees with Chile?

-I would not celebrate something that is won at the table, but I love that Chile goes to the World Cup because South American countries, apart from Argentina and Brazil, have a hard time qualifying.

“Peru was confident”

—Were you surprised by Peru’s elimination against Australia in the playoffs?

—No, because we must not forget that Argentina with Maradona won fairly and Uruguay too. Peru was very confident. You can’t look over your shoulder at your opponent.

—It was said that the national team trip with their relatives distracted them.

—Peru was doing well, I thought it would qualify, but the same thing happened to Colo Colo (against River in Buenos Aires for the Copa Libertadores), a team cannot travel with the family. You have to be professional. When traveling with the family they deviated from the subject. It was a mistake for the leaders to accept that absurd request that I am sure was from the players.

—You were heavily criticized for a penalty that you missed in the 1982 World Cup in Spain against Austria.

-Until today. Pelé, Maradona also failed, There had to be a scapegoat in that team and it was me, but over time I turned it into a virtue to give talks in schools, universities, in various places because you learn from failure.

—Something similar happens with Christian Cueva for the penalty he missed against Denmark in the World Cup in Russia.

—You have to shake off as quickly as possible because if you don’t you’re going to die eternally worried about losing a penalty in a match when it happened to everyone.

“Pinochet vetoed me”

—Is it true that Pinochet vetoed you from the selection?

-Yes. In 1977 they didn’t call me up for the national team nor in 1983 because of politics. They did not harm me, but a sporting country because it is most likely that Chile would have classified Argentina 78 because they always scored goals against Peru. In Argentina they had already separated the headquarters of Mendoza for Chile.

—It is said that Pinochet’s bitterness was because he did not shake his hand.

—I did not shake his hand because I do not like dictators, neither on the right nor on the left, I like democracy

—Have you ever had a proposal or a poll to play for a Peruvian club?

—When Alianza suffered the tragedy (1987) Cubillas called me to play for Alianza and I was about to, but something happened, I don’t remember what happened that prevented me from playing for them.

“Thank you very much, Don Carlos, for your kindness.”

—To you and the Peruvian people who have always treated me well. Peru has its charm. That absurd historical rivalry belongs to the governments, not to the people. Thank you very much and unfortunately the Peruvian and Chilean fans will have to turn on the television to watch the World Cup without our national teams.

Source-elpopular.pe