Swiss captain Granit Xhaka is being investigated by prosecutors in Switzerland over claims that he acquired a fraudulent Covid-19 vaccination certificate.
The 33-year-old allegedly secured the document in 2022, when it was required in Switzerland for certain international journeys.
Lucerne’s public prosecutor confirmed that an inquiry had begun to establish whether a criminal offence was committed in connection with obtaining a “false or forged” certificate.
The Sunderland midfielder, who represented Arsenal at the time, released a statement on social media on Monday in which he said he had distrusted the vaccine and had been affected by concern and uncertainty.
He said: “While I was in that unsettled frame of mind, I obtained a vaccination certificate rather than seeking proper answers to the questions I still had.
“I now understand that what I did was wrong. I made an error and I am sorry.
“I accept responsibility for my choice, will participate in the process of determining the facts and will co-operate fully with the appropriate authorities.”
Switzerland’s public health authority said there had never been a universal legal obligation to possess such a certificate. However, it was necessary for entry to some events and venues, as well as for certain travel, limiting access for people without one.
The restrictions remained in force in Switzerland until spring 2022. Certificates continued to be provided afterward, mainly to help travellers satisfy entry rules in other countries.
The possible penalty for Xhaka remains uncertain. In 2023, former Switzerland men’s ice hockey coach Patrick Fischer was convicted of using a fraudulent Covid-19 certificate while working at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
A criminal court ordered Fischer to pay a fine of 38,000 Swiss francs. He lost his position with Switzerland in April this year and received a four-year suspension from the International Ice Hockey Federation earlier this month.
The Swiss Football Association announced that Xhaka, who holds the national appearance record with 152 caps, had left the squad before their forthcoming Nations League games against Scotland, North Macedonia and Slovenia.
The association said the player and team management had agreed on his withdrawal and would consider his international future once the current window had ended.
Switzerland are scheduled to visit North Macedonia on 26 September and Scotland on 29 September, followed by home matches against Slovenia and North Macedonia in early October.
Sunderland manager Regis le Bris declined to address the claims after his side’s loss at Manchester City on Sunday.
“Those issues and circumstances are not for me to discuss,” he said. “My responsibility is football, and from a football perspective, he is an excellent player.”
Xhaka led Switzerland as captain at the World Cup earlier this year, where Argentina, who later finished as runners-up, eliminated them in the quarter-finals.
What do you feel about this post?
Like
Love
Happy
Haha
Sad
