Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka is under investigation by Swiss prosecutors over allegations that he obtained a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate.
The public prosecutor’s office in the city of Lucerne confirmed that an investigation is under way to determine whether any criminal behaviour took place in obtaining a “false or forged” certificate. The 33-year-old is alleged to have acquired the document in 2022, when it was a requirement in Switzerland for some travel abroad. At the time, the Sunderland midfielder was playing for Arsenal.
Xhaka posted a statement on social media on Monday saying he had a “mistrust” towards the vaccine and had been “influenced by worries and uncertainty”. He said: “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 confirmed that there was never a general legal requirement to obtain or hold such a certificate, but that it was needed for access to various activities, venues and travel, meaning participation was restricted for anyone who did not possess one. Those measures in Switzerland remained in place until spring 2022. After that point, Covid-19 certificates continued to be issued, primarily to enable members of the public to meet entry requirements when travelling abroad.
The Swiss Football Association said Xhaka, the country’s record appearance holder with 152 caps, had withdrawn from the Swiss camp for their upcoming Nations League matches against Scotland, North Macedonia and Slovenia following his statement. It added that the decision to withdraw had been made jointly by the player and management, and that they would discuss Xhaka’s future with the team after the international window. Switzerland have away fixtures against North Macedonia and Scotland on 26 and 29 September, before facing Slovenia and North Macedonia at home in early October.
Sunderland boss Regis le Bris refused to comment on the allegations following the Black Cats’ defeat at Manchester City on Sunday. “It is not my area to speak about those problems or situations,” he said. “My area is football. About football, he is really good.”
Xhaka captained Switzerland at the World Cup earlier this year, where they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by eventual runners-up Argentina.