Xhaka faces up to five years behind bars after vaccination fraud

At the 51st minute of the second half, Granit Xhaka stepped up, curled a penalty past the Bosnian‑Herzegovina goalkeeper and celebrated with a tongue‑out grin that lit up the stadium. The Swiss midfielder’s strike gave Switzerland a crucial lead in the Nations League tie.

Hours later, Xhaka was suspended from the Swiss national team after admitting he had forged a Covid‑19 vaccination certificate. The admission triggered a potential prison term of up to five years, according to reports from in France and the Swiss newspaper Blick. The investigation is being handled by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Lucerne. Authorities will question Xhaka in early October, though the exact date of the hearing has not yet been disclosed.

The falsification took place in 2022, when Xhaka was still playing for Arsenal. After a spell at Bayer Leverkusen, he now captains Sunderland in the Premier League and is 33 years old.

On Monday, Xhaka posted an apology on Instagram, saying he acted during a "state of emotional turbulence" amid the pandemic. He wrote: "I was personally very restless and had serious reservations about the Covid‑19 vaccine. In that emotional state I obtained a vaccination certificate instead of seeking answers through the proper channels. It was a mistake, and I take full responsibility."

Xhaka has amassed 152 caps and 18 goals for Switzerland. The national side will contest three Nations League matches between September and October against North Macedonia, Scotland and Slovenia.

Images of the incident have been circulated by Getty Images, and the story has also been covered by the Portuguese newspaper Público.