Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka has admitted obtaining a fake Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022 and will miss Switzerland’s upcoming Nations League matches while he cooperates with an investigation by authorities.
The 33-year-old revealed on Monday that he obtained the certificate while he was experiencing doubts and fears surrounding the Covid-19 vaccine. His admission came days after the Lucerne Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that criminal proceedings had been opened to establish whether a criminal offence had been committed.
Xhaka, who was playing for Arsenal at the time, acknowledged that obtaining the certificate was a mistake and apologised for his actions.
“At the time, I was personally very unsettled and had serious reservations about the Covid-19 vaccination. I felt a deep mistrust of the vaccine and was overcome by fears and uncertainty,” Xhaka said.
“In this state of emotional turmoil, I obtained a vaccination certificate instead of seeking answers to my unresolved questions through the proper channels.
“Today, I can clearly see that this was not the right course of action. It was a mistake. I am sorry.”
Xhaka agrees to miss Switzerland matches
Following his admission, Xhaka and the Swiss Football Association agreed that he would not join the national team for the current international window.
The decision means Switzerland will be without their most-capped men’s international for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. The federation said the decision was reached jointly with Xhaka in the interests of the national team.
Swiss FA president Peter Knäbel welcomed Xhaka’s decision to step away while the matter is addressed.
“We welcome Granit taking this step and facing the consequences,” Knäbel said, with the federation expected to reassess the situation after the international window.
The Lucerne authorities are expected to question Xhaka in early October as part of their investigation. The case is focused on whether there was criminally relevant conduct connected to obtaining a false certificate or document forgery. Xhaka has said he will cooperate fully with the authorities.
Xhaka faces possible legal consequences
The former Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder could face legal consequences depending on the outcome of the investigation.
Swiss legal expert Sven Zimmerlin told SRF that possible offences include document forgery and obtaining a false document. He noted that the potential penalties depend on the findings of the authorities and the circumstances of the case.
The investigation itself does not amount to a conviction, and the legal process will determine whether Xhaka committed an offence.
There is already a recent Swiss sporting precedent involving a fake Covid certificate. Former Switzerland ice hockey coach Patrick Fischer was convicted in 2023 after using a fake certificate connected to his participation at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Fischer was fined 38,000 Swiss francs by a criminal court and later received a four-year ban from the International Ice Hockey Federation.
However, Swiss broadcaster SRF noted that the circumstances surrounding Xhaka’s case were different, particularly because there was no established sporting advantage from his certificate at this stage.
Xhaka’s international future remains unclear
Xhaka has been an important figure for Switzerland for more than a decade and holds the record for the most appearances for the country’s men’s national team.
He left Arsenal in 2023 after seven years in north London before moving to Bayer Leverkusen, where he played a key role in their successful 2023-24 campaign. He subsequently moved to Sunderland, where he became club captain.
For now, his immediate focus will be on cooperating with the Lucerne authorities and allowing the investigation to run its course.
The Swiss FA has not announced any permanent decision regarding Xhaka’s role with the national team. His future with Switzerland will be reassessed after the current Nations League window, leaving the next stage of the investigation likely to determine what happens next.
