Granit Xhaka has been excluded from the Switzerland national team for their current training camp and upcoming Nations League matches following a criminal investigation into a fake Covid vaccination certificate.
The 33-year-old Sunderland midfielder admitted to obtaining the forged document, prompting his immediate removal from the national squad. The decision was confirmed by the Swiss Football Association and reported by Sovetsky Sport.
Prosecutors in the Swiss city of Lucerne are conducting an active investigation into the player on suspicion of using a forged document. The legal case also involves a local doctor, whose medical practice was raided by authorities in 2023 in connection with the inquiry.
Lucerne is a major city in central Switzerland, and local prosecutors handle criminal offences committed within the canton. Forging official documents is treated as a serious crime under the Swiss criminal code.
Criminal penalties and player response
Individuals found guilty of document forgery in Switzerland face severe legal consequences. The penalty for the offence ranges from a financial fine to a maximum prison sentence of up to five years.
Xhaka explained his decision to obtain the fake document by citing his fear and distrust of the Covid vaccine. The player conceded that his actions were a mistake and said he was very sorry for what he had done.
During the height of the Covid pandemic, vaccination certificates were widely required across Europe for international travel, access to public venues, and participation in professional sports. Many countries implemented strict mandates to control the spread of the virus.
Swiss Football Association president Peter Knaebel said Xhaka informed the governing body about the situation the previous evening. Knaebel added that the midfielder promised to address the matter publicly and take full responsibility for his actions.
Knaebel noted that the association welcomed Xhaka's transparency and his readiness to accept the consequences. However, the president confirmed that both parties mutually agreed it was in the best interests of the squad to finish the ongoing training camp without him.
International career and club background
Xhaka is the captain of the Switzerland national team and one of the most experienced players in the history of the country. The midfielder has made 152 appearances for the national side and scored 18 goals during his extensive international career.
He is currently playing club football for Sunderland, an English team with a long history in the domestic league system. Before his move to the north of England, Xhaka spent several years in the Premier League playing for Arsenal.
His professional career began in his native Switzerland with Basel, one of the most successful clubs in the Swiss Super League. He later moved to the German Bundesliga, where he represented Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen.
The Swiss national team is currently preparing for fixtures in the UEFA Nations League, a biennial international football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of UEFA member associations. The tournament was introduced to replace international friendly matches with more competitive fixtures.
Switzerland will now have to navigate their upcoming Nations League schedule without their captain and most capped active player, as the legal proceedings in Lucerne continue.
