Swiss prosecutors investigate captain Granit Xhaka over suspected fake Covid-19 vaccination certificate
The Lucerne cantonal public prosecutor has opened a criminal investigation into Swiss national football captain Granit Xhaka and a local physician over suspected document forgery.
Cantonal prosecutor launches criminal investigation
The public prosecutor's office of the Canton of Lucerne has initiated criminal proceedings against Swiss national football team captain Granit Xhaka and a Lucerne-based physician. Authorities suspect the 33-year-old midfielder of document forgery and obtaining a false medical certificate without having received the corresponding Covid-19 injections. The case follows an earlier police operation in 2023, during which cantonal police searched the doctor's medical practice and seized evidence regarding multiple clients suspected of obtaining falsified documentation. Simon Kopp, information officer for the Lucerne prosecution, confirmed that the investigation focuses on verifying whether unlawful conduct occurred under Swiss penal law.
The objective is to clarify whether criminally relevant conduct took place in connection with the possible procurement of a false certification or document forgery.
Pandemic timeline and vaccination documentation
The inquiry centers on medical and testing records dating back to earlier stages of the pandemic. In September 2021, Xhaka tested positive for the coronavirus during a national team gathering in Basel, forcing him into quarantine and ruling him out of a friendly match against Greece and subsequent World Cup qualification fixtures. At the time of the positive test, the player had confirmed that he was neither vaccinated nor recovered from a prior infection. On 9 January 2022, a second positive test sidelined him from Arsenal's FA Cup match against Nottingham Forest. According to medical documents submitted on his behalf, Xhaka received a first vaccine dose two weeks later on 25 January 2022 and a second dose on 11 November 2022.
- Xhaka tests positive for Covid-19 in Basel and confirms he is unvaccinated
- Second positive Covid-19 test rules Xhaka out of Arsenal fixture
- First Covid-19 vaccination recorded in physician documentation
- Second Covid-19 vaccination recorded in medical records
- Lucerne police search the physician's practice and seize records
- Scheduled interrogation of Xhaka by the Lucerne public prosecutor
Defense statements and institutional responses
Both Xhaka and the treating physician have firmly rejected all allegations, maintaining that the vaccinations were administered according to standard medical procedures. Through his crisis communication consultant Andreas Bantel of Bantel & Partner, the footballer declared complete transparency and confirmed his intention to cooperate fully with judicial authorities. Bantel noted that Xhaka will address the specifics directly with the public prosecutor before speaking publicly. The Swiss Football Association responded to inquiries by stating that it lacks verified findings.
At present, we have no reliable information and therefore cannot comment on the matter.
Legal classification and scheduled hearing
Xhaka is scheduled for formal questioning by the Lucerne public prosecutor on 6 October 2026, the same date Switzerland is scheduled to play a Nations League fixture against Slovenia at the Thermoplan Arena in Lucerne. Under Swiss law, document forgery is categorized as a felony offense, representing the most severe class of statutory infractions. Criminal law expert André Kuhn noted that establishing formal proceedings requires concrete initial suspicion and supporting circumstantial evidence.
Document forgery can be punished with a monetary fine or imprisonment of up to five years.
Kuhn stated that convicted first-time offenders without criminal records typically receive a suspended monetary penalty alongside a fine capped at 10,000 Swiss francs. The presumption of innocence remains in place for both Xhaka and the physician throughout the ongoing criminal proceedings.
