Swiss captain Xhaka's fake COVID certificate sparks legal storm
In the glow of the Stadium of Light, Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka stared at his phone, the Instagram post that would soon dominate headlines across Europe, as the Swiss captain prepared to address the fallout from a fake COVID‑19 vaccination certificate he obtained in 2022.
Admission and Immediate Reaction
The 33‑year‑old Sunderland midfielder confirmed on Monday that he had secured a fraudulent COVID‑19 vaccination certificate in 2022. His admission came in an Instagram statement posted a few days after the Lucerne public prosecutor’s office announced criminal proceedings over a suspected fraudulent certificate. Xhaka said he had been deeply uncertain about the vaccine at the time, describing his mindset as one of fear, mistrust and uncertainty.
"Today I see clearly that this path was not right. It was a mistake. I am sorry," Xhaka wrote. He added that he accepted full responsibility and would cooperate fully with the relevant Swiss authorities.
Legal Probe and Wider Investigation
Swiss media reported that prosecutors were examining whether Xhaka had obtained a false vaccination certification or been involved in document forgery. The case is linked to a broader investigation into a Lucerne doctor suspected of issuing fraudulent COVID‑19 certificates. Swiss authorities searched the doctor’s practice in 2023, seizing documents that included COVID‑related records, and have opened proceedings against both the doctor and Xhaka.
The Lucerne public prosecutor’s office said the inquiry aims to determine whether criminally relevant conduct occurred in connection with possible procurement of false certification or document forgery. Xhaka is expected to be questioned by prosecutors in early October,
The admission also clarified earlier his vaccination records had shown doses in January and November 2022, a period when he was playing for Arsenal in the Premier League. Swiss authorities stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and that Xhaka retains the presumption of innocence, with no final legal outcome announced as of Monday.
National Team Fallout
Within hours of his statement, the Swiss Football Association confirmed that Xhaka would miss the national team’s training camp in Belek, Turkey, and would not feature in the upcoming Nations League fixtures. The decision, reached jointly by Xhaka and the federation, was taken to preserve squad stability ahead of four matches – away games against North Macedonia and Scotland and home fixtures against Slovenia and North Macedonia.
SFV president Peter Knabel said Xhaka had informed the federation before making his public statement and welcomed the midfielder’s willingness to accept responsibility. Knabel added that there had been no discussion about stripping Xhaka of the captaincy and that the federation would reassess the situation after the international window.
The story is filed under a long list of categories: Politics, Diplomacy, Legislation, War on Terror, EU Affairs, Elections, News, Analysis, Türkiye, Istanbul, Education, Investigations, Minorities, Expat Corner, Diaspora, World, Mid‑East, Europe, Americas, Asia, Pacific, Africa, Syrian Crisis, Islamophobia, Business, Automotive, Economy, Energy, Finance, Tourism, Tech, Defense, Transportation, Lifestyle, Health, Environment, Travel, Food, Fashion, Science, Religion, History, Feature, Arts, Cinema, Music, Events, Portrait, Reviews, Performing Arts, Sports, Football, Basketball, Motorsports, Tennis, Opinion, Columns, Op‑Ed, Reader’s Corner, Editorial, Photo, Gallery, Jobs, About, US, © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık, East, ISTANBUL, Photo.