Switzerland national team captain and Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka is under criminal investigation by public prosecutors in Lucerne, Switzerland, over allegations surrounding the validity of his Covid-19 vaccination certificate.
Authorities are examining whether the 33-year-old footballer improperly obtained a fraudulent document during the pandemic from a medical doctor currently being investigated for falsifying health records.
Public apology and confession
Following initial reports, Xhaka released a public statement admitting that he acquired a fake vaccination certificate in 2022. The midfielder cited a “deep mistrust” of the vaccine at the time as his primary reason, calling his decision a severe mistake.
He apologized to fans, teammates and officials for his actions, expressing a commitment to cooperate transparently with law enforcement officials as legal proceedings move forward.
Squad withdrawal and legal consequences
In light of the ongoing legal inquiry, Xhaka and the Swiss Football Association reached a mutual decision to pull the captain from Switzerland’s upcoming UEFA Nations League squad.
Swiss Football Association president Peter Knabel acknowledged the severity of the matter, stating that the organization would review Xhaka’s international future prior to the next fixtures window.
While document forgery carries legal penalties under Swiss law, legal experts consider severe penalties unlikely in this instance. Xhaka is scheduled to formally meet prosecutors in Lucerne next month.
