Granit Xhaka Under Criminal Investigation for Forged Covid-19 Vaccine Certificate
Granit Xhaka, the captain of Switzerland and the country’s record appearance holder, is under criminal investigation in his homeland over allegations he obtained a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate.
Prosecutors in Lucerne confirmed they have opened proceedings to determine whether any criminal offence was committed in securing what they described as a “false or forged” certificate. The case centres on 2022, when proof of vaccination or recovery was still required in Switzerland for certain travel and access to venues, even though there was no blanket legal obligation to hold such a pass.
At the time, Xhaka was playing for Arsenal. He is now at Sunderland, but it is his actions during that period that are being scrutinised.
Xhaka admits “mistake” and mistrust
On Monday, the 33-year-old released a candid statement on social media, acknowledging he had acquired a certificate despite harbouring deep doubts about the vaccine.
He said he had a “mistrust” towards Covid-19 vaccination and had been “influenced by worries and uncertainty”. Instead of seeking medical clarification, he admitted, he took a different route.
“In this troubled state of mind I acquired a vaccine certificate, instead of clarifying my unanswered questions in the proper way,” he wrote.
“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 underlined the broader context. While there was never a general legal requirement for everyone in Switzerland to hold a Covid-19 certificate, it was needed for entry to various activities, venues and for some international travel. Those without one faced restrictions on participation.
Such domestic measures remained in force until spring 2022. After that, certificates continued to be issued mainly to help people meet foreign entry rules when travelling abroad.
Swiss FA reaction and international fallout
The immediate sporting impact has landed on the national team. The Swiss Football Association announced that Xhaka has withdrawn from the squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Scotland, North Macedonia and Slovenia.
The decision, the federation said, was taken jointly by Xhaka and the national-team management after his statement became public. His future with the side will not be addressed until after the current international window.
Switzerland face North Macedonia and Scotland away on 26 and 29 September, before hosting Slovenia and then North Macedonia in early October. For the first time in years, they will go into a competitive block of matches without their long-standing leader, who has amassed 152 caps and captained his country at major tournaments.
Xhaka most recently wore the armband at the World Cup earlier this year, guiding Switzerland to the quarter-finals, where they were knocked out by eventual runners-up Argentina.
Club silence as legal process unfolds
On the domestic front, Sunderland manager Regis le Bris kept his distance from the storm after his side’s defeat at Manchester City on Sunday.
“It is not my area to speak about those problems or situations,” he said when asked about the allegations. “My area is football. About football, he is really good.”
For now, the focus in Switzerland shifts from the pitch to the courtroom. Prosecutors will work to establish how the certificate was obtained and whether it broke the law. Xhaka has pledged full cooperation.
The national team must quickly learn how to function without the man who has been at its heart for more than a decade. How long that adjustment lasts may depend on what the Lucerne investigation uncovers.
