Granit Xhaka's suspension shakes the Swiss national team

At the base in Belek, Turkey, the captain of the Swiss national team, Granit Xhaka, will miss the upcoming training. The Swiss Football Association confirmed that he will not take part in the camp that starts this Monday, nor in the four Nations League matches that follow in September and October.

Reason for the sanction

Xhaka admitted to having obtained a forged COVID‑19 vaccination certificate during the pandemic, a matter that is being investigated by the Lucerne Prosecutor's Office. In a statement he said: “I take responsibility for my decision and will fully cooperate with the competent authorities”. The sanction is based on that confession.

Nations League schedule

The fixtures Xhaka will miss are September 26 against North Macedonia, September 29 versus Scotland, October 3 against Slovenia in Lucerne and October 6 in the second meeting with North Macedonia. These are the four international matches scheduled for the September‑October window.

The SFA thanked Xhaka for showing willingness to clarify the facts, but decided that its first captain will not be part of the camp. The measure has been described as temporary and the federation will reassess his situation at the end of this international period.

The midfielder, who plays for Sunderland after spells at Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen, explained that his decision stemmed from a “deep mistrust of the vaccine”. It has not been specified what he used the document for or how long he employed it.

Coach Murat Yakin has called his players to the camp in Turkey, but Xhaka’s absence leaves a void in midfield and in the captaincy. The federation acknowledges that the sanction is not about a sporting issue, but about a lack of integrity.

The Swiss national team dropped last season from the first to the second tier of the Nations League, so it will start this new phase without one of its most important figures.

With the Lucerne Prosecutor's Office investigation ongoing, Xhaka faces a possible definitive sanction, while Switzerland will have to reorganise its tactical setup for the September and October fixtures without its captain.