Former D.C. United player Christian Castillo banned for life by FIFA for match fixing; Rodolfo Zelaya's status still unknown

The match fixing scandal that has engulfed the El Salvador national team has now been met with punishment from FIFA. Fourteen players, including former D.C. United winger Christian Castillo, have been banned from FIFA competitions for life, including both club and national team competitions. These players has already been banned by FESFUT, the Salvadoran federation, for life as well. One of the matches that has been accused of being fixed was United's 1-0 victory on 19 June 2010, which was won on an Adam Cristman goal. Castillo was a member of D.C. United at that time, but did not feature for either team in this match.

One player who did play in that match was former D.C. United midfielder Eliseo Quintanilla, who has received a six month ban by El Salvador's football federation as well as receiving today a similar six month ban from FIFA. So far, all of the bans that have been given by FESFUT have been matched by FIFA. If that trend continues, Salvadoran national team forward and former MLS target Rodolfo Zelaya looks to be facing a year long ban from any FIFA sanctioned competitions. He was not a part of the first round of suspensions, but later received a one year ban for actions related to the same match fixing scandal. Zelaya seemed poised for a move to MLS either this summer or this winter, after his Gold Cup performance, but this match fixing scandal seems to have permanently damaged him.

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