Granit Xhaka is facing a legal inquiry in Switzerland as prosecutors investigate whether the national team captain obtained a COVID-19 vaccination certificate in 2022 without actually receiving the vaccine, according to regional reports. The Lucerne Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened proceedings looking into the 33-year-old midfielder, focusing on documentation allegedly issued by a Lucerne physician who is under investigation for issuing fraudulent medical papers.
Lucerne Prosecutors Open Inquiry Into Medical Documentation
Investigators secured evidence indicating that the doctor in question had provided multiple clients with falsified vaccination confirmations. Authorities have scheduled a formal interview for Granit Xhaka in Lucerne to address the allegations. As legal proceedings continue, both the player and the physician maintain the presumption of innocence.
The investigation arrives on the heels of similar scrutiny within Swiss sport. Just over five months prior, former national ice hockey coach Patrick Fischer faced public pressure and vacated his position after an inquiry exposed a falsified corona certificate, highlighting the strict legal consequences governing pandemic documentation in the country.
Public Stance and Vaccination Debates in 2021 and 2022
The current legal scrutiny revives intense public discussion surrounding Xhaka’s vaccination status during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2021, the midfielder missed initial World Cup qualifiers under head coach Murat Yakin after contracting the virus. During that period, Xhaka expressed vaccine-skeptical views publicly, remarking that individuals should decide for themselves whether to receive the inoculation.
Upon his return to the national squad in early 2022, Xhaka publicly stated that he had been vaccinated, telling reporters at the time that he did so “so that you have nothing more to write about.” Head coach Murat Yakin had previously indicated an intention to discuss the matter with the team captain, noting that while the Swiss Football Association took a clear stance favoring vaccination, the federation’s role was to sensibilize players rather than mandate compliance.
Next Steps in the Legal Review
The prosecutor’s office will examine the digital and physical records seized during the 2023 practice raid during the upcoming October hearings in Lucerne. Authorities have not yet indicated when prosecutors will decide whether to formally file charges or close the inquiry.
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