Granit Xhaka Under Criminal Investigation for Alleged Forged Covid Certificate

Granit Xhaka, the heartbeat of Switzerland’s national team for more than a decade, now finds himself at the centre of a criminal investigation that reaches far beyond the pitch.

Prosecutors in Lucerne have opened proceedings into allegations the Switzerland captain obtained a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022, at a time when such proof was required for certain travel and access to venues at home and abroad.

The public prosecutor’s office confirmed an investigation is under way to determine whether any criminal behaviour was involved in securing what it described as a “false or forged” certificate. No charges have been announced, but the case has already shaken the national setup.

Xhaka admits “mistake” and steps back from national duty

Xhaka, now 33 and playing for Sunderland after his long spell at Arsenal, addressed the allegations in a candid social media statement on Monday. He spoke of a deep “mistrust” towards the vaccine and said he had been “influenced by worries and uncertainty” at the time.

“In this troubled state of mind I acquired a vaccine certificate, instead of clarifying my unanswered questions in the proper way,” he wrote. “Today I see clearly, that this way was not correct. It was a mistake. I'm sorry.

“I take responsibility for this decision, will engage with the process of establishing the facts and fully co-operate with the relevant authorities.”

The fallout was immediate. The Swiss Football Association announced that Xhaka, the country’s record appearance holder with 152 caps, had withdrawn from the squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Scotland, North Macedonia and Slovenia.

According to the federation, the decision was taken jointly by the player and the national team management. Xhaka’s future with Switzerland will be discussed only after the current international window closes, leaving his long-term role with the side in doubt.

Covid rules and the context of 2022

Switzerland’s federal office of public health underlined that there was never a blanket legal obligation for citizens to hold a Covid-19 certificate. Yet for a time, it was the key to everyday life and professional obligations: access to various activities, venues and international travel depended on it, and those without a certificate faced restrictions.

These domestic measures remained in place until spring 2022. Even after they were lifted inside Switzerland, certificates continued to be issued primarily to help people meet entry requirements imposed by other countries. It was in this climate of shifting rules and lingering uncertainty that Xhaka is alleged to have obtained the forged document.

Nations League plans reshaped

For national coach and staff, the timing could hardly be worse. Switzerland have away fixtures against North Macedonia and Scotland on 26 and 29 September, followed by home games against Slovenia and North Macedonia in early October.

Xhaka, who captained Switzerland at the World Cup earlier this year and led them to the quarter-finals before defeat to eventual runners-up Argentina, was expected to be central again. His sudden absence forces a reshuffle of leadership and structure in midfield just as competitive fixtures resume.

The association has not yet indicated when any decision on his longer-term status will be made, only that it will come after this international block. Until then, the team moves on without the player who has been its most consistent presence.

Club silence as legal process begins

At club level, Sunderland are keeping their distance. Head coach Regis le Bris was asked about the allegations following the Black Cats’ defeat at Manchester City on Sunday and refused to be drawn into the controversy.

“It is not my area to speak about those problems or situations,” he said. “My area is football. About football, he is really good.”

For now, that is where his employers intend to leave it: the legal process in Lucerne on one side, the Championship grind on the other.

A player who has built his reputation on fronting up in difficult moments now faces the most delicate off-field battle of his career. The next time Switzerland line up for a major match, the real question will not be who wears the armband, but whether their long-time captain is even in the picture.