Switzerland and Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka is under investigation by Swiss prosecutors over allegations he obtained a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate. The 33-year-old is alleged to have obtained the certificate in 2022, when it was a requirement in Switzerland for some travel abroad.
According to BBC Sport, the public prosecutor’s office of the city of Lucerne confirmed the investigation was under way to determine whether any criminal behaviour took place in obtaining a “false or forged” certificate. The Sunderland midfielder, who was playing for Arsenal at the time, posted a statement on social media on Monday saying he had a “mistrust” towards the vaccine and had been “influenced by worries and uncertainty”.
He said: “In this troubled state of mind I acquired a vaccine certificate, instead of clarifying my unanswered questions in the proper way. “Today I see clearly, that this way was not correct. It was a mistake. I’m sorry.
“I take responsibility for this decision, will engage with the process of establishing the facts and fully co-operate with the relevant authorities.” The Swiss office of public health confirmed that while there was never a general legal requirement to obtain or hold such a certificate, it was needed for access to various activities, venues and travel, meaning that participation was restricted for anyone who did not possess one.
These measures in Switzerland were in place until spring 2022. After that point, Covid-19 certificates continued to be issued, primarily to enable members of the public to meet entry requirements when travelling abroad. The Swiss Football Association said Xhaka, the country’s record appearance holder with 152 caps, had withdrawn from the Swiss camp for their upcoming Nations League matches against Scotland, North Macedonia and Slovenia following his statement.