Xhaka faces prison sentence – Nati future remains unclear

The 33‑year‑old midfielder Granit Xhaka, who plays for FC Sunderland, has withdrawn from Switzerland's upcoming UEFA Nations League matches after the official opening of the investigation by the Lucerne public prosecutor; his future in the national team remains uncertain.

Legal assessment

In an interview with SRF, criminal law expert Sven Zimmerlin explained that the allegation of document forgery constitutes a crime. He emphasized that a conviction is not certain and assumes that, in the end, a conditional fine is likely to be imposed.

The 152‑cap Swiss international publicly apologized on social media and took responsibility. Swiss media praised his openness but expressed doubt as to whether Xhaka remains viable as captain. Is Xhaka still viable as captain?

Peter Knäbel, president of the Swiss Football Association, left the door open for a possible return of Xhaka and emphasized that a future in the national team is theoretically possible.

The case is not isolated: former Swiss ice‑hockey coach Patrick Fischer was convicted in 2023 for a forged COVID‑19 certificate. He received 80 daily fines of 480 Swiss francs each, amounting to roughly €85,000 including fees.

As long as the legal proceedings continue, Xhaka's availability for the Nations League remains unclear, and the Swiss national team must plan without its captain.