Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka is being investigated by prosecutors over allegations that he obtained a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022, prompting his withdrawal from the national squad ahead of their upcoming Nations League fixtures.
The 33-year-old Sunderland midfielder, who was playing for Arsenal at the time of the alleged incident, is the subject of an investigation by the Lucerne public prosecutor’s office. Authorities are examining whether any criminal offences were committed in connection with the acquisition of a false or forged certificate.
In a social media statement published on Monday, Xhaka acknowledged obtaining a vaccination certificate during a period when he had concerns about Covid-19 vaccines. He explained that uncertainty and distrust had influenced his decision and admitted that he should have sought clarification about his concerns rather than taking that course of action.
The midfielder apologised, accepted responsibility for his decision and committed to cooperating fully with the authorities as they establish the circumstances surrounding the case.
Switzerland Captain Withdraws From International Duty
The Swiss Football Association confirmed that Xhaka, the country’s record appearance holder with 152 international caps, has left the national squad following his public statement.
The decision was reached jointly by the player and national team management. Discussions concerning his future involvement with Switzerland will take place after the upcoming international window.
Switzerland are scheduled to visit North Macedonia on 26 September and Scotland on 29 September before hosting Slovenia and North Macedonia in early October.
Xhaka captained his country at the 2026 World Cup, where Switzerland reached the quarter-finals before losing to eventual runners-up Argentina.
His situation has also drawn attention at club level. Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris declined to address the allegations following his team’s defeat at Manchester City on Sunday, limiting his comments to Xhaka’s footballing contribution.
Investigation Focuses on Certificate Obtained in 2022
Switzerland did not introduce a general legal obligation requiring everyone to hold a Covid-19 vaccination certificate. However, certificates were necessary for access to certain venues and activities, as well as for some international travel.
Domestic restrictions remained in place until spring 2022. Certificates continued to be issued afterward, primarily to help travellers satisfy entry requirements in other countries.
The potential legal consequences for Xhaka remain uncertain while prosecutors establish the facts of the case.
A previous Swiss case involving a forged vaccination certificate resulted in sanctions against former national ice hockey coach Patrick Fischer. He was fined 38,000 Swiss francs by a criminal court in 2023 after being found guilty of using a fake certificate to work at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Fischer was dismissed from his national team position in April 2026 and received a four-year ban from the International Ice Hockey Federation earlier this month.
Xhaka’s case remains under investigation, with no criminal conviction reported against the Switzerland midfielder.