Switzerland captain, Granit Xhaka, has admitted obtaining a fake Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022 while he was still playing for Arsenal, describing the decision as a mistake.
The Sunderland midfielder has subsequently been withdrawn from Switzerland’s squad and will miss the country’s next four Nations League fixtures following his admission.
Xhaka is expected to appear before prosecutors in Lucerne next week as authorities investigate allegations surrounding the issuance of fraudulent Covid vaccination certificates by a doctor in the Swiss city.
The doctor, who came under investigation in 2023, has denied the allegations.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Xhaka said he had chosen not to receive the Covid vaccine because of concerns he had at the time.
“At the time, I was personally very uncertain and had serious concerns regarding the Covid-19 vaccination. I felt deep distrust of the vaccine and was plagued by fear and uncertainty.
“In this turbulent emotional state, I obtained a vaccination certificate instead of clarifying my open questions through the proper channels. Today I clearly see this was not the right course of action. It was a mistake. I am sorry. I take responsibility for this decision, am committed to investigating the matter and am co-operating with the relevant authorities.”
The 33-year-old tested positive for Covid-19 in September 2022 and was absent from Switzerland’s international matches that month. He turns 34 on Sunday.
A spokesperson for the Lucerne cantonal prosecutor’s office said the investigation would determine whether Xhaka’s actions amounted to a criminal offence.
“The aim [of the inquiries] is to clarify whether there has been conduct relevant under criminal law in connection with the possible fraudulent obtaining of a false certification and/or document forgery.”
If prosecuted and convicted, Xhaka could face a substantial fine and, theoretically, up to five years in prison, although a custodial sentence is considered highly unlikely.
Xhaka was an Arsenal player when the incident occurred and left the Premier League club for Bayer Leverkusen in 2023 before joining Sunderland two years later. Sunderland said it would not comment on the matter.
The Swiss Football Association has also backed the decision to remove Xhaka from the current squad, with its president, Peter Knabel, saying the midfielder had informed the association of his decision to publicly acknowledge the matter.
“Granit Xhaka approached us about the situation last [Sunday] night and told us he would admit it publicly and take responsibility. We welcome Granit taking this step and facing the consequences. We jointly concluded that it is in the team’s interests to complete the entire camp without him. Our priority now is to calm the situation.”
Xhaka, who has made 152 appearances for Switzerland, will miss Nations League matches against North Macedonia and Scotland away from home, as well as fixtures against Slovenia and North Macedonia on home soil.
