Granit Xhaka Investigated in Switzerland Over Alleged Fake COVID Certificate

Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka faces a legal inquest in Switzerland after public prosecutors opened an investigation into alleged forged COVID-19 vaccine certificates, according to reporting by Blick.

The Lucerne public prosecutor’s office has launched an inquiry centered on the Switzerland national team icon and his connections to a doctor accused of distributing fake medical documentation. According to case details cited by Blick, investigators are examining whether the midfielder received a fraudulent certificate stating he was vaccinated against the virus when that allegedly did not occur. A spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office confirmed the ongoing proceedings, stating that the objective is to clarify whether any criminally relevant conduct occurred regarding the procurement of false certifications or forgery.

Granit Xhaka Denies Allegations and Defends Vaccination Status

Xhaka strongly denies all allegations of wrongdoing through his legal representation and maintains that his inoculation record is legitimate. A representative for the player stated that the Sunderland captain is fully cooperating with the investigation in a transparent manner. According to Blick, Xhaka holds official confirmation from his doctor showing that he received his first COVID-19 vaccination on January 25, 2022, and a second dose on November 11, 2022.

Those dates follow a previous COVID-19 infection in 2021 that forced the player to miss two fixtures for the Swiss national team. Counsel representing the doctor involved in the case also insists that the medical procedures took place as documented, telling Blick that the client genuinely administered the vaccines to the footballer. The prosecutor’s office has scheduled an official questioning session for Xhaka early next month. The inquiry coincides with international fixtures, as Switzerland prepares to face North Macedonia in the Nations League in Lucerne on October 6, 2026.

Broader Precedents in European Football

The investigation involving Xhaka follows several high-profile legal and disciplinary cases concerning forged health documents within European football over recent seasons. In 2024, Xhaka’s long-time international teammate Breel Embolo faced similar scrutiny when authorities investigated allegations involving a member of the Hells Angels accused of distributing fake COVID test certificates and travel documents containing Embolo’s personal information, as reported by Blick.

German football faced a major scandal in 2021 when then-Werder Bremen manager Markus Anfang became the subject of a criminal investigation regarding a forged vaccination certificate. Anfang subsequently resigned from his managerial post and admitted guilt to the charges. The German Football Association (DFB) issued a one-year ban alongside a €20,000 fine, while the Bremen district court imposed an additional €36,000 penalty. As the legal process continues in Switzerland, prosecutors have not yet announced any formal charges against Xhaka.

The goal is to determine if any punishable actions took place regarding the potential unlawful acquisition of an untrue certificate and/or document fabrication.

Lucerne public prosecutor’s office spokesperson via Blick

Granit Xhaka is fully available to the authorities and will cooperate completely transparently. He possesses documentation from his physician certifying that his initial Covid inoculation took place on January 25, 2022, followed by his second shot on November 11, 2022.

Granit Xhaka’s spokesperson via Blick