Granit Xhaka Under Investigation for Forged Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate
Granit Xhaka, the heartbeat of Switzerland’s national team for more than a decade, now finds himself at the centre of a very different kind of scrutiny.
The Swiss captain is under investigation by prosecutors in Lucerne over allegations he obtained a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022, at a time when proof of vaccination opened doors to travel and public life across Europe.
Prosecutors Step In
The public prosecutor's office in the city of Lucerne confirmed an investigation is under way. Their task: to establish whether any criminal behaviour was involved in acquiring what they describe as a "false or forged" vaccination certificate.
There was never a blanket legal obligation in Switzerland to hold such a certificate. But in practice, life without one was heavily restricted. The Swiss office of public health reiterated that certificates were required for access to a range of venues, activities and for certain travel, effectively shutting out those who did not have one.
Those domestic measures stayed in place until spring 2022. After that, certificates continued to be issued mainly for people needing to satisfy entry rules when travelling abroad. It is during this period that Xhaka is alleged to have obtained his document.
Xhaka Admits “Mistake”
Now 33 and playing for Sunderland after his long spell at Arsenal, Xhaka addressed the allegations head-on in a statement on social media on Monday.
He wrote that he had a "mistrust" towards the Covid-19 vaccine and admitted he had been "influenced by worries and uncertainty". In that mindset, he said, he chose to acquire a vaccine certificate instead of seeking proper clarification to his questions.
"Today I see clearly, that this way was not correct. It was a mistake. I'm sorry," he said, adding that he takes responsibility for the decision and will fully co-operate with the authorities as they work to establish the facts.
For a player who has never shied away from confrontation on the pitch, this was a different kind of admission: contrite, direct, and with the spotlight far from football.
Switzerland Lose Their Captain
The fallout for the national team was immediate. The Swiss Football Association confirmed that Xhaka, the country’s record appearance holder with 152 caps, has withdrawn from the squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Scotland, North Macedonia and Slovenia.
The federation said the decision was taken jointly by the player and the national-team management, and made clear that Xhaka’s future with the side will be discussed only after the current international window.
Switzerland face away trips to North Macedonia and Scotland on 26 and 29 September, before hosting Slovenia and North Macedonia in early October. They will do so without the man who has defined their midfield for years, the captain who led them at the World Cup earlier this year, where they went out in the quarter-finals to eventual runners-up Argentina.
On the eve of an important Nations League block, Murat Yakin must suddenly plan not just for opponents, but for a dressing room without its most dominant voice.
Club Silence, National Storm
At club level, Sunderland have moved carefully. After the Black Cats’ defeat at Manchester City on Sunday, head coach Regis le Bris declined to be drawn into the controversy.
"It is not my area to speak about those problems or situations," he said, keeping his remarks strictly on football. "My area is football. About football, he is really good."
The contrast is striking. On Wearside, Xhaka is being judged on his passing range and leadership in midfield. Back home, his judgment off the pitch is under legal examination.
For a player who has built his career on fronting up to pressure, this is a test of a different magnitude. The investigation will run its course. The question now is whether Switzerland’s captain can repair trust as quickly as he once broke opposition presses.
