Xhaka dropped from Switzerland squad after admitting fake vaccine pass
Granit Xhaka, midfielder and captain of the Switzerland national team, has been dropped from the squad’s upcoming Nations League fixtures after admitting he falsified a Covid-19 vaccination certificate. The Lucerne public prosecutor’s office confirmed the player is under investigation and will be questioned by local authorities. A hearing is expected to take place in early October.
Player says he acted during emotional turmoil
The 33-year-old turned to social media to apologize, saying he acted during a period of what he called emotional turmoil. The forgery took place in 2022, while Xhaka was still playing for Arsenal. He has since moved through Bayer Leverkusen and now captains Sunderland in the Premier League.
“Over the past few days, there has been a lot of media coverage about a matter from my past. I would like to address it personally. At that time, I was personally very unsettled and had serious reservations about the Covid-19 vaccine. I felt deep distrust toward the vaccine and was overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty. In that state of emotional turmoil, I obtained a vaccination certificate instead of seeking answers to my doubts through the proper channels. Today, I clearly see that this was not the right decision. It was a mistake. I apologize. I take full responsibility for this decision, I am prepared to address the matter fully and I will cooperate completely with the relevant authorities,” Xhaka wrote on Instagram.
Federation president cites team’s best interest
The president of the Swiss Football Association said the federation reached an agreement with Xhaka, concluding it was “in the best interest of the team” that he sit out the upcoming matches. Switzerland will play three Nations League games between September and October, facing North Macedonia, Scotland and Slovenia.
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