Granit Xhaka Under 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 in his home country over an alleged forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate.

The public prosecutor’s office in Lucerne has confirmed it is examining whether the 33-year-old obtained a “false or forged” certificate in 2022, at a time when proof of vaccination was still needed in Switzerland for certain activities and for travel abroad.

For a player who has built a reputation on confrontation in midfield and clarity in leadership, the off-field picture is suddenly far more complicated.

Prosecutors move in

The Lucerne authorities have opened proceedings to establish if any criminal offence was committed in the way Xhaka obtained the certificate. No verdict, no charge yet – but the investigation is active.

Switzerland never imposed a blanket legal obligation to hold a Covid certificate. Life, though, was difficult without one. Access to events, venues and cross-border travel was restricted, and the certificate became a de facto pass to normality until measures were rolled back in spring 2022. Even after that, certificates continued to be issued, largely to meet foreign entry rules.

It is in that late phase of the pandemic landscape that Xhaka’s case is alleged to sit.

Xhaka’s admission and apology

On Monday, the Sunderland midfielder, then an Arsenal player at the time of the alleged offence, took the unusual step of publicly outlining his side of the story in a social media statement.

He spoke of a “mistrust” towards the vaccine, saying he had been “influenced by worries and uncertainty”. In that mindset, he admitted, he chose a shortcut.

“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.”

No excuses. No attempt to downplay the act. Just a blunt admission that he went about it the wrong way and now has to live with the consequences.

Fallout for the national team

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 The Swiss Football Association announced that Xhaka, their record appearance holder with 152 caps, had withdrawn from the squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Scotland, North Macedonia and Slovenia.

The decision, the federation stressed, was made jointly by the player and the national-team management. His future with the side will be discussed only after the current international window closes.

For a team that has leaned so heavily on his presence and personality, it is a significant rupture. Xhaka captained Switzerland at the World Cup earlier this year, leading them to the quarter-finals before they were knocked out by eventual runners-up Argentina. Now, as they prepare for away trips to North Macedonia and Scotland on 26 and 29 September, then home games against Slovenia and North Macedonia in early October, they must do so without the man who usually sets their tempo.

The armband, for now, lies on the table.

Club keep their distance

At club level, Sunderland have moved carefully around the issue. After the Black Cats’ defeat at Manchester City on Sunday, head coach Regis le Bris 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.”

That was as far as he would go. No public judgement, no elaboration, just a clear line between the legal process and the dressing room.

A leader under scrutiny

Xhaka has long been a polarising figure, admired for his intensity and leadership, criticised at times for his volatility. This, though, is a different kind of scrutiny, one that reaches beyond football into questions of public trust and personal responsibility in a period that remains raw for many.

The investigation in Lucerne will now run its course. Xhaka has pledged full cooperation. Switzerland, deprived of their captain, must adjust on the pitch while the legal process unfolds off it.

For a player who has spent his career dictating play, the next moves are out of his hands.