Granit Xhaka admits faking COVID-19 vaccination certificate, banned from Switzerland squad for four Nations League matches

Granit Xhaka, captain of the Switzerland national team, has admitted he used a fake COVID-19 vaccination certificate during the pandemic. The scandal emerged after Swiss newspaper Blick reported that the Lucerne public prosecutor's office had opened official proceedings against the 33-year-old midfielder. Xhaka then posted on Instagram and accepted responsibility, saying fear and distrust had overwhelmed him. The admission is a complete reversal of earlier statements made through his spokesperson Andreas Bantel, who had insisted Xhaka held a valid medical vaccination certificate. Inconsistencies in dates eventually collapsed that defense. The Swiss Football Federation reacted quickly, excluding Xhaka from the squad for the next four Nations League matches in September and October. He also faces serious legal consequences. In Switzerland, obtaining and using fake COVID certificates is treated as document forgery, punishable by up to three years in prison and a large fine. The case raises questions about how the national team and clubs handle medical records and about the pressure players faced during the pandemic. For Xhaka, the hardest battle is no longer on the pitch but in court.