Granit Xhaka withdraws from Switzerland squad after admitting to fake Covid-19 vaccination certificate | OneFootball

Granit Xhaka has withdrawn from the Switzerland squad after admitting he obtained a fraudulent Covid-19 vaccination certificate, and he now faces a legal inquiry in his homeland.

The player said in a post that fear and distrust of the vaccine led him to secure a certificate in 2022, a decision he called a mistake. He apologised, accepted responsibility and said he is cooperating with the authorities.

Then at Arsenal, the 33-year-old has stepped aside by mutual agreement with the federation to concentrate on the process. He is on the verge of turning 34.

Prosecutors in Lucerne are probing a doctor suspected of issuing numerous false documents, and Xhaka is due to be questioned next week. The doctor denies wrongdoing. The inquiry aims to determine whether offences such as document forgery or the fraudulent obtaining of certification were committed.

Sanctions could include heavy fines and a suspended prison term, while a custodial sentence for a first-time offender in this context is regarded as unlikely. The penal code provides for a maximum five-year sentence.

Xhaka, capped 152 times, will miss UEFA Nations League matches against North Macedonia, Scotland and Slovenia as he prepares for an October hearing. Sunderland, where he has played since 2025 after a successful stint at Bayer Leverkusen, have declined to comment and note the incident occurred during his time at Arsenal.

Source: Goal.com

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