Granit Xhaka, the captain of the Swiss national football team, is under investigation by Swiss prosecutors regarding allegations that he obtained a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate. The 33-year-old is accused of acquiring the certificate in 2022, a time when it was necessary for certain travel abroad from Switzerland. The public prosecutor's office in Lucerne confirmed that the investigation aims to determine if any criminal behavior occurred in obtaining a 'false or forged' certificate.
Xhaka, who was playing for Arsenal at the time, issued a statement on social media expressing his 'mistrust' towards the vaccine and stating that he was 'influenced by worries and uncertainty.' He acknowledged, 'In this troubled state of mind I acquired a vaccine certificate, instead of clarifying my unanswered questions in the proper way. Today I see clearly, that this way was not correct. It was a mistake. I'm sorry. I take responsibility for this decision, will engage with the process of establishing the facts and fully co-operate with the relevant authorities.'
The Swiss office of public health clarified that while there was never a general legal requirement to obtain or hold such a certificate, it was necessary for access to various activities, venues, and travel, which restricted participation for those without one. These measures were in effect until spring 2022, after which Covid-19 certificates continued to be issued primarily for travel purposes.
The potential consequences for Xhaka remain unclear. In 2023, Patrick Fischer, the former coach of the Swiss men's ice hockey team, was convicted for using a fake Covid-19 certificate to participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, resulting in a fine of 38,000 Swiss francs and a four-year ban from the International Ice Hockey Federation.
Following his statement, the Swiss Football Association announced that Xhaka had withdrawn from the national team's upcoming Nations League matches against Scotland, North Macedonia, and Slovenia. This decision was made jointly by Xhaka and the management, with discussions about his future with the team planned after the international window. Switzerland is scheduled to play away matches against North Macedonia and Scotland on September 26 and 29, respectively, before hosting Slovenia and North Macedonia in early October.
Sunderland manager Regis le Bris declined to comment on the allegations after the team's defeat to Manchester City, stating, 'It is not my area to speak about those problems or situations. My area is football. About football, he is really good.' Xhaka captained Switzerland at the World Cup earlier this year, where the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Argentina.