Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka is the subject of a criminal investigation after Swiss prosecutors examined claims he obtained a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate. The 33-year-old midfielder, who currently plays for Sunderland, is alleged to have acquired the document in 2022, when such certificates were required for certain forms of travel abroad. The public prosecutor’s office in the central Swiss city of Lucerne has confirmed it is probing whether criminal offences were committed in connection with a “false or forged” certificate.
Xhaka, widely regarded as one of the most experienced figures in Swiss football, addressed the allegations in a statement shared on social media on Monday. The Arsenal-era international, who holds a record 152 caps for his country, acknowledged having harboured a deep mistrust towards the vaccine and said he had been swayed by “worries and uncertainty.” He admitted that, rather than pursuing legitimate avenues to address his concerns, he obtained a vaccine certificate through improper means. “Today I see clearly, that this way was not correct. It was a mistake. I’m sorry,” he wrote, adding that he intends to cooperate fully with the relevant authorities.
The Context Behind the Investigation
The case centres on a period when Switzerland, like much of Europe, implemented health-based restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. The Swiss office of public health has clarified that while there was never a blanket legal obligation to carry a certificate, one was necessary to access certain venues, activities, and international travel routes. Those without a valid document faced significant limitations on their movements.
These measures remained in place until spring 2022. Even after restrictions were lifted domestically, certificates continued to be issued, largely to satisfy entry requirements imposed by other nations. It was during this transitional phase that Xhaka is said to have obtained the document in question, while he was still a player at Arsenal.
The consequences of falsifying such a certificate can be severe, as a recent precedent in Swiss sport has demonstrated. In 2023, Patrick Fischer, who was then the head coach of Switzerland’s men’s national ice hockey team, was found guilty of using a fake certificate to attend the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Fischer was fined 38,000 Swiss francs by a criminal court. His punishment extended well beyond the courtroom: he was dismissed from his role in April of this year and, earlier this month, received a four-year ban from all international activity by the International Ice Hockey Federation.
A Nation’s Captain in Crisis
The Swiss Football Association confirmed that Xhaka has withdrawn from the national squad ahead of their upcoming Nations League fixtures against Scotland, North Macedonia, and Slovenia. The decision, the association said, was reached jointly by the player and management, and no final determination will be made regarding his place in the team until after the international break concludes.
Switzerland are scheduled to face North Macedonia and Scotland away from home on 26 and 29 September respectively, before hosting North Macedonia and Slovenia in early October. The absence of their most-capped player is a significant blow at a delicate moment for the national setup.
Sunderland manager Regis le Bris declined to speculate on the matter when questioned 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.” His measured response reflected a cautious approach, yet it also underscored the respect Xhaka commands within the dressing room.
Xhaka led Switzerland at the World Cup earlier this year, where the team reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by eventual runners-up Argentina. His leadership on that stage was widely praised, making the current controversy all the more striking for those who have followed his career closely.
Why it Matters
This case carries implications far beyond one player’s private decisions. Xhaka is not merely a squad member but the captain of a national team that has long relied on his authority and consistency, and his record-setting number of appearances for Switzerland makes him a figure of enormous significance in the country’s sporting landscape. If the investigation results in charges or a conviction, the fallout could extend to his club obligations at Sunderland and his standing within European football more broadly. Moreover, the comparison to Fischer’s case suggests that authorities in Switzerland are prepared to pursue these matters rigorously, regardless of the individual’s profile. For a sport that depends heavily on public trust, the episode serves as a stark reminder of how the pressures of the pandemic era continue to reverberate — and of the accountability that even the most celebrated athletes must face.
