Switzerland captain Xhaka admits using fake COVID vaccination certificate in 2022

Granit Xhaka, 33, captain of the Swiss national football team, admitted on Monday to obtaining a forged COVID-19 vaccination certificate in 2022. In a statement posted on Instagram, Xhaka explained that at the time he felt "deep distrust" of the vaccine and was "plagued by fear and uncertainty," which led him to obtain the false certificate rather than address his concerns through proper channels. He acknowledged the decision was a mistake and expressed regret.

Following his admission, the Swiss Football Association (SFV) announced that Xhaka would withdraw from the national team's training camp and miss four upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against North Macedonia, Scotland, Slovenia, and North Macedonia again. The decision was made jointly between Xhaka and SFV leadership. SFA President Peter Knäbel stated the association welcomed Xhaka taking responsibility and noted that playing without him was in the team's best interest. Knäbel said discussions about Xhaka's future with the team would resume after the international break.

The Lucerne Cantonal Prosecutor's Office confirmed an investigation is underway to determine whether criminal behaviour occurred in obtaining a false or forged certificate. The investigation centres on allegations that a doctor in Lucerne issued a series of false COVID certificates during the pandemic; the doctor has denied the allegations and was first investigated in 2023. If charged, Xhaka could theoretically face a fine or up to five years in prison, though custodial punishment is understood to be extremely unlikely.

Xhaka was playing for Arsenal in 2022, when the false certificate was allegedly obtained. He tested positive for COVID in September 2022 and missed Switzerland's international matches that month. The midfielder has since moved to Bayer Leverkusen in 2023 and joined Sunderland in 2025. With 152 international caps, Xhaka is Switzerland's record appearance holder and captained the national team at the 2026 World Cup, where Switzerland reached the quarter-finals.

In Switzerland, COVID-19 vaccination certificates were required for certain travel abroad and access to specific activities and venues until spring 2022. After that date, certificates were primarily issued to meet entry requirements for international travel. Xhaka's case has drawn comparison to Patrick Fischer, the former Swiss men's ice hockey coach who was dismissed in 2024 after reports emerged that he obtained a false vaccination certificate to travel to China for the Beijing 2022 Olympics, which had mandatory vaccination requirements.