The Electoral Commission of the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) has rejected Esteban Paz's candidacy for the presidency of the national football governing body. The commission stated that Paz's list did not gather the minimum required percentage of supporting signatures, achieving only 21.8% of the necessary endorsements, which falls short of the 25% stipulated by the regulations. In contrast, the current president and re-election candidate, Francisco Egas, successfully obtained 66.7% of the required signatures, further solidifying his position within the organization.

Following the disqualification, Esteban Paz has the legal right to appeal the decision and has called a press conference for Monday afternoon in Quito to discuss the matter. In his communications, including a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Paz expressed his concern over the timing of the commission's review of documentation, which coincided with his press conference. He criticized the actions of the commission as arbitrary and suggested that they are trying to prematurely end his candidacy, likening it to blowing the whistle before the match officially starts.

The developments surrounding the FEF's electoral process highlight the contentious political landscape within Ecuadorian football. The contrast in the support received by Paz versus Egas indicates the existing divisions in the federation. The outcome of this situation could have significant implications for the governing body and its future direction as the 2026 World Cup approaches, making the integrity of the electoral process crucial for the stakeholders involved.