Switzerland Captain Granit Xhaka Investigated Over Forged COVID-19 Certificate
The midfielder has withdrawn from the national team as prosecutors examine allegations he obtained a false vaccination certificate in 2022.
Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka is under investigation by Swiss prosecutors over allegations that he obtained a forged COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
The 33-year-old midfielder, who was playing for Arsenal at the time of the alleged offense in 2022, issued a statement on social media expressing mistrust towards the vaccine and stating he was influenced by worries and uncertainty. He admitted that in this state of mind, he acquired a vaccine certificate instead of clarifying his questions properly, calling it a mistake and taking responsibility.
The public prosecutor's office in Lucerne confirmed the investigation aims to determine if any criminal behavior occurred in obtaining a "false or forged" certificate. While Switzerland did not have a general legal requirement for vaccination certificates, they were necessary for certain travel abroad and access to various activities and venues until spring 2022. After this period, certificates continued to be issued primarily to facilitate international travel.
Following his statement, Xhaka, who holds the record for most appearances for Switzerland with 152 caps, withdrew from the national team camp. He will miss upcoming Nations League matches against Scotland, North Macedonia, and Slovenia. The Swiss Football Association announced that the decision to withdraw was mutual between the player and management, and Xhaka's future with the team will be discussed after the international window.
Xhaka captained Switzerland during the recent World Cup, where the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual runners-up Argentina. His current club manager, Regis le Bris of Sunderland, declined to comment on the allegations following his team's recent match, stating that his focus is solely on football and Xhaka's performance on the field.