Granit Xhaka steps away from Switzerland team over fake Covid certificate
Granit Xhaka, Switzerland‘s captain, admitted to obtaining a fake Covid vaccination certificate in 2022, calling the decision a «mistake.» The Sunderland midfielder has withdrawn from Switzerland’s upcoming Nations League camp as prosecutors decide whether to initiate criminal proceedings.
Xhaka said he had been deeply distrustful of the vaccine at the time and chose to obtain a certificate rather than resolve his concerns through official channels. He said he regretted the decision and was cooperating with the authorities.
The Lucerne prosecutor’s office is examining whether there was possible fraudulent procurement of a false certificate or document forgery. The wider case concerns a doctor in Lucerne who has been under investigation since 2023 over the alleged issuing of false Covid certificates; the doctor denies wrongdoing, according to The Guardian.
The Swiss FA said Xhaka informed federation officials before making his admission public. President Peter Knäbel said the decision for him to sit out the camp was made jointly, with the federation planning to reassess the situation after the international window. Xhaka, Switzerland’s record appearance holder with 152 caps, will miss the matches against North Macedonia, Scotland and Slovenia, Reuters reported.
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Xhaka’s long-running vaccine dispute
The episode dates back to a period when Xhaka’s vaccination status was already public.
In September 2021, while still at Arsenal, the Swiss federation confirmed that he had chosen not to receive a Covid vaccine, describing it at the time as his personal decision. He subsequently tested positive for Covid and missed Switzerland duty.
Arsenal also publicly encouraged vaccination among players. Mikel Arteta said the club had tried to explain why getting vaccinated would help protect players, teammates and those around them, while stressing that it was not compulsory.
Xhaka has now said that fear and uncertainty shaped his decision-making at the time. His admission turns what had previously been a public refusal to vaccinate into a separate legal issue over the certificate itself.
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