Granit Xhaka under investigation in Switzerland — what the prosecution has uncovered about the captain

Granit Xhaka has been placed under investigation by Swiss authorities over suspicions linked to forged COVID-19 certificates. The captain of the Swiss national team is expected to be questioned by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the canton of Lucerne in early October.

According to information published by “Blick”, the investigation concerns vaccination certificates suspected of having been issued by a female doctor in Lucerne. Her office was raided by police in 2023, and evidence was seized during the operation. According to investigators, several patients are suspected of having received forged certificates from her.

Lucerne Public Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Simon Kopp confirmed to “Blick” that criminal proceedings have been opened against Xhaka and the doctor.

“The aim is to determine whether criminal offenses were committed in connection with the potentially fraudulent obtaining of a false certificate and/or the forgery of documents,” Kopp said.

The case relates to Xhaka’s vaccination history during the pandemic. On September 1, 2021, the footballer tested positive for coronavirus. At that moment, he was not vaccinated and had not previously had COVID-19. The infection forced him to miss a Switzerland friendly against Greece, as well as another match.

Later, Xhaka publicly stated that he had been vaccinated against COVID-19. That is precisely one of the issues now being investigated by the Swiss authorities: whether the vaccinations actually took place or whether only a certificate was issued for him. The footballer’s defense, however, denies that the documents are forged.

Xhaka’s spokesman, Andreas Bantel, said the Swiss captain is ready to cooperate fully with the authorities.

“Granit Xhaka is fully at the disposal of the authorities and is cooperating transparently,” Bantel said.

He added that Xhaka holds a certificate from the doctor who treated him, according to which the footballer was vaccinated against COVID-19 on January 25, 2022 and on November 11, 2022.

“Granit Xhaka has a certificate from the doctor who treated him, confirming that he was vaccinated against COVID-19 for the first time on January 25, 2022 and for the second time on November 11, 2022,” Bantel explained.

The female doctor involved in the investigation also denies any wrongdoing. Her lawyer, Cornel Borbely, told “Blick” that his client insists she personally vaccinated Xhaka and that the procedure was carried out in accordance with the rules.

The Swiss Football Federation, meanwhile, has remained reserved. “At this stage, we have no reliable information about this matter and for this reason we cannot comment,” the ASF said.

For now, both Granit Xhaka and the doctor suspected of having issued the certificates are considered innocent. The investigation will have to determine whether criminal violations occurred and whether the footballer’s vaccination documents are in order.

The Xhaka case is not the only one

Switzerland has seen other cases involving suspected forged COVID-19 certificates.

Xhaka’s national teammate Breel Embolo was mentioned in such a case that became public after a court trial in Basel in May 2024. In that instance, it concerned two travel testing certificates issued in the footballer’s name by a person working in a laboratory.

Another case that caused strong reactions in Switzerland was that of Patrick Fischer, coach of the Swiss national ice hockey team. It emerged that Fischer had not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and had traveled to the 2022 Winter Olympics with a forged certificate. He too later spoke publicly about the matter.

In Xhaka’s case, however, the investigation is still ongoing and there is no court decision determining criminal liability.