Swiss Midfielder Granit Xhaka Confesses Fake COVID‑19 Vaccination Certificate; Removed From Switzerland Squad
Sunderland and Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka have admitted to obtaining a fictitious COVID‑19 vaccination certificate in 2022. The 33‑year‑old has been excluded from the Swiss squad for the upcoming Nations League matches after apologising for a “miscalculation” he made while playing for Arsenal.
Lucerne authorities have confirmed that Xhaka is subject to scrutiny, a process designed to determine whether the documentation was acquired through illegal means. A conviction could expose him to penalties ranging from a significant fine to up to five years’ imprisonment, although prior judgments have found a monetary sanction sufficient as a court penalty.
“In recent months, there has been widespread reportage about a matter from his past,” Xhaka said in a statement issued Monday morning. “Regarding the pandemic vaccination, I was profoundly doubtful and grappled with severe fears. I was besieged by anxiety and uncertainty. During that turbulent psychological state, I secured a certification instead of seeking answers via proper channels. I now recognise that was wrong. I sincerely apologize and take full responsibility, committing myself to a comprehensive investigation and full compliance with the authorities involved.”
A Xhaka representative noted that the midfielder had already received his COVID‑19 immunisation in January 2022 and again in November of the same year, following a positive test during his Switzerland national side’s international campaign.
The veteran who accumulated 152 appearances for his nation would miss the next four fixtures—home and away contests with North Macedonia—and subsequent Nations League meetings against Scotland and Slovenia.
“Granit Xhaka informed us last night and confirmed he will address the situation publicly and accept accountability,” said Swiss Football Association president Peter Knabel.
“We welcome Granit’s prompt response and are prepared to enforce consequences. At the same time, we concur that retaining the player would not serve the team’s best interests; therefore, the coaching staff will continue training without him. Our immediate focus is to stabilise the situation and concentrate on the upcoming UEFA Nations League challenges.”
In April 2026, Swiss ice‑hockey head coach Patrick Fischer was dismissed after it became known that he had paid for a falsified certification purporting to verify his own vaccine status, a forgery that enabled his participation in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The discrepancy was exposed several years later when the public broadcaster SRF launched an inquiry; Fischer was fined roughly 39,000 Swiss francs—about US$50,000 at the time—though the scandal remained hidden until the follow‑up probe.
Knabel clarified to Blick that the Xhaka episode is fundamentally different from Fischer’s.
“Granit did not need this vaccination certificate to qualify for a major tournament or international competition. At that time, the Swiss FA had advised—not required—vaccination,” highlighted a spokesperson for the Lucene cantonal prosecutor’s office. “The aim of the current investigations is to clarify whether any criminal conduct related to the acquisition of a fraudulent certificate or document forgery occurred.”
