12:21h CEST

The Chile Football Federation (ANFP) is looking into a possible appeal against their elimination from the South American qualifying group in the final round of matches after Peru and Colombia played out a 1-1 draw in Lima that was sufficient for Colombia to reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia automatically and Peru to secure the inter-continental playoff place and a double-header against New Zealand.

With the score level in the final moments of the game, Radamel Falcao was captured on video appearing to tell Peru captain Paulo Guerrero that results elsewhere meant that no change in the status quo would see both sides qualify, with Chile losing in Brazil.

Falcao: "We knew what the scores were in the other games"

Full screen GUADALUPE PARDO (REUTERS)

After the game, Peru midfielder Renato Tapia admitted Falcao had told him about the progress of games elsewhere in the group. “I spoke to Falcao and he told me that we were both ahead [in qualifying],” Tapia said. For his part, Falcao did not deny the exchange: “We knew what the scores were in the other games. That’s all I told Paulo Guerrero.”

Chile though are now to look into a possible appeal to Fifa after finishing sixth in the group and missing out on a place in the finals, with the ANFP considering a case of match-fixing might be applicable after a notable easing off by both Peru and Colombia in the final stages, according to a report in Chilean daily La Tercera.

Chile considering match-fixing appeal

Full screen ERNESTO BENAVIDES (AFP)

Chile’s case is based on a May 2014 circular from the world governing body regarding “specific recommendations to combat match fixing,” concretely sub-paragraph 6.3.2, which covers “Unlawfully influencing the course or results of matches.” The punishments laid out in the text include “expulsion from a competition, relegation to a lower division, a points deduction and /or the return of awards.”

Based on this clause, Chile are considering taking their case to Fifa to try and reach the World Cup in Russia via arbitration.