Granit Xhaka steps aside from Swiss squad after admitting fake Covid certificate purchase

Admission and squad withdrawal

Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka admitted on 21 September 2026 that he acquired a fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination certificate during the pandemic. The 33-year-old midfielder, who plays for Sunderland in the English Premier League, released a statement on Instagram addressing the allegations after reports in Swiss media. Following discussions between the player and Swiss Football Association president Peter Knäbel on Sunday evening, both parties agreed that Xhaka will skip the upcoming four UEFA Nations League fixtures. Switzerland's most capped player, with 152 appearances for the national team, stated that he intends to cooperate fully with legal authorities.

“In this agitated emotional state, I acquired a vaccination certificate instead of clarifying my open questions through the intended path. Today I see clearly that this path was not right. It was a mistake. I am sorry.”

Criminal proceedings in Lucerne

The public prosecutor's office in Lucerne has opened criminal proceedings against Xhaka on suspicion of document forgery. The investigation began in 2023 and primarily targets a Lucerne-based general practitioner suspected of issuing forged certificates. Xhaka is scheduled to appear in person for formal questioning in Lucerne in early October 2026, at which point he will receive access to case files. Zug-based defense lawyer Reto Steinmann noted that Xhaka faces a potential conditional penalty of 50 to 80 daily fine units, which could reach 150,000 Swiss francs based on his reported annual salary of roughly 10 million Swiss francs. A supplementary connection fine of up to 10,000 Swiss francs could also be imposed under Swiss law.

Camp preparations and fixture schedule

The Swiss national squad gathered on Monday at the Kempinski Hotel The Dome in Belek, Turkey, to begin preparations under manager Murat Yakin. The team is staying in residential bungalows at the Turkish resort due to space constraints in Switzerland following their 2026 World Cup quarterfinal exit against Argentina. Forwards Zachary Athekame, Johan Manzambi, and first-time call-up Winsley Boteli from FC Sion joined the group, while Aurèle Amenda and Denis Zakaria were ruled out through injury. The Swiss Football Association confirmed that it will evaluate Xhaka's status after the four international fixtures conclude in October.

Public response and sporting context

Xhaka's admission follows a previous case involving former national ice hockey coach Patrick Fischer, who used a forged certificate to secure participation at the Olympic Games. SRF reporting noted that Xhaka gained no obvious sporting advantage from the document, as Qatar waived COVID-19 test and vaccination requirements for World Cup entry on 1 November 2022, prior to the second dose dates recorded on the certificate. In Switzerland, public debate over the captaincy intensified following the admission. A reader survey conducted by Blick with over 8,800 respondents showed 61% advocating for Xhaka's resignation from the national team, while 39% opposed his departure.

Should resign61%

Should stay39%

Should resign

61 %

Should stay

39 %

Data from the article text

“Granit Xhaka informed us about the situation yesterday evening and told us at the same time that he would comment publicly on it and take responsibility. We welcome Granit taking this step. At the same time, we came to the joint conclusion that it is in the best interest of the team to complete this gathering without him.”