Confession Xhaka – Swiss captain admits buying vaccination certificate
Xhaka's confession shakes the Swiss national team: The 33‑year‑old captain Granit Xhaka posted on the Instagram app an admission that he had purchased a Covid vaccination certificate in 2022. Ahead of his upcoming interrogation by the Lucerne public prosecutor, this initially means his unavailability for four Nations League matches.
Instagram confession and personal motives
In his Instagram post, Xhaka wrote that at the time of the Covid‑19 vaccination he was heavily unsettled and had serious concerns. He described that in this agitated emotional state he had purchased a vaccination certificate instead of addressing open questions through the proper channels. He concluded by emphasizing that he recognises the path as a mistake and takes responsibility.
Xhaka is currently contracted to AFC Sunderland in the English Premier League. Previously he played in the Bundesliga for Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen.
Impact on the Swiss national team
Reuters reported that Xhaka, as captain, will not be available for the Swiss national team for now. The decision affects the next four Nations League matches. Swiss Football Association president Peter Knäbel said that while he welcomes Xhaka's step, the team wishes to proceed without him in the interest of the squad and to focus on the upcoming tasks.
The Lucerne public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation and plans to interrogate Xhaka next month. Simon Kopp, head of the media department, explained that the aim is to determine whether there is criminally relevant conduct related to a possible fraud or forgery of Covid certificates.
The Swiss Football Association was informed the evening before Xhaka's Instagram statement by the 152‑time international player. Knäbel stressed that they had jointly decided to calm the situation and place the full focus on the team and the UEFA Nations League.
The national team is preparing in Belek, Turkey, for away matches against North Macedonia on September 26 and Scotland on September 29; two more games follow in early October. After this international window, they intend to reassess the situation together with Xhaka and discuss the next steps, Knäbel said.
The public confession sheds light on Xhaka's personal insecurity, while simultaneously affecting the sporting planning of the Swiss national team in a lasting way. The juxtaposition shows how individual decisions can have far‑reaching consequences for an entire team.