Granit Xhaka Out of Switzerland Squad After Admitting He Faked Covid Vaccination Certificate

Granit Xhaka has withdrawn from Switzerland's squad for the upcoming international break after admitting he used fake vaccination documents during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Swiss captain, who led his national team to the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup, acknowledged his mistake in a statement on social media and took full responsibility for what happened.

• Granit Xhaka will miss the Nations League games against North Macedonia, Scotland and Slovenia.
• The player admitted he obtained a fake vaccination certificate because of his "deep mistrust of the vaccine".
• The Lucerne public prosecutor's office has opened proceedings against the midfielder.
• The Swiss Football Association and Xhaka agreed it was best for the team to hold this training camp without him.
• Xhaka is Switzerland's most-capped player in history with 152 international appearances.

Xhaka Apologises for Using a Fake Covid Certificate

The 33-year-old midfielder posted a message on Instagram in which he asked for forgiveness and described what happened as "a mistake". According to his account, he felt a "deep mistrust of the vaccine" and ended up obtaining a vaccination certificate instead of addressing his doubts through the proper channels.

I now clearly see that this was the wrong course of action. It was a mistake. I am sorry. I accept responsibility for this decision, am facing the process of addressing the facts, and am cooperating fully with the relevant authorities.

Xhaka is facing proceedings opened by the Lucerne public prosecutor's office. According to the Swiss press, the former Arsenal captain is due to be questioned by the authorities next month as part of an investigation that also involves the doctor who allegedly supplied the document.

Swiss FA and Xhaka Agree on His Absence from the Nations League

The Swiss Football Association confirmed that the captain will not be part of the team for the Nations League matches against North Macedonia, Scotland and Slovenia. Federation president Peter Knabel explained that the decision was made jointly following a meeting between the player and the governing body.

Knabel welcomed the step taken by Xhaka in owning up to the facts and facing the consequences. At the same time, he said both the player and the federation agreed that it was in the team's best interest to complete this camp without him. The door is not fully closed: the situation will be reassessed after the international window.

We welcome Granit taking this step and facing the consequences. At the same time, we jointly concluded that it is in the team's best interest to complete this training camp without him. After the conclusion of this international match window, we will reassess the situation together with Granit and discuss the next steps.

What Switzerland Lose Without Their Captain

Missing Xhaka is a significant blow for Switzerland at the start of their Nations League campaign. The midfielder is a key figure in the centre of the park and his leadership stretches well beyond tactics. With 152 caps, nobody has represented Switzerland more times than him.

His absence also comes at a demanding moment: three consecutive matches against different types of opponents will test the squad's depth. Switzerland will need to find a new leader in midfield and share the dressing-room responsibilities among other senior players.

The Investigation into Fake Certificates in Switzerland

Xhaka's case is part of a broader investigation into the issuing of irregular vaccination certificates during the pandemic. Swiss authorities have long been pursuing this type of document fraud, which carries serious penalties in the country.

For the footballer, the legal proceedings add to the sporting and reputational cost. The player has pledged to cooperate with the justice system to clarify the facts, a gesture the federation has welcomed as it considers a possible return to the squad in November.

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