Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka faces Swiss criminal probe over fake vaccine pass

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Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal case against Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka, who has admitted faking a Covid-19 vaccination certificate.

The Lucerne Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the probe is underway, leaving the experienced midfielder facing formal questioning over the document obtained back in 2022.

An admission from the past

The incident dates back to his time as an Arsenal player when travel restrictions required proof of vaccination in certain regions. Xhaka acknowledged that he felt deeply unsettled and mistrustful of the medical treatment at the time.

In a statement posted on social media, the 33-year-old admitted his wrongdoing and offered a public apology for his actions. Speaking to his followers on Instagram, Xhaka wrote:

At the time, I was personally very unsettled and had serious reservations about the Covid-19 vaccination. I felt a deep mistrust of the vaccine and was overcome by fears and uncertainty.

He explained that emotional turmoil drove him to bypass proper channels rather than seeking legitimate medical answers. Xhaka added that he is ready to face the consequences.

Today, I can clearly see that this was not the right course of action. It was a mistake. I am sorry.

International squad withdrawal

Following the revelations, the player pulled out of Murat Yakin’s national squad for the current international break. He will miss upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against North Macedonia, Scotland and Slovenia.

Swiss FA president Peter Knabel revealed that the player made contact to explain the situation before addressing the public. Speaking to the media, Knabel explained:

Granit Xhaka informed us about the situation [on Sunday] night and told us that he will address it publicly and take responsibility.

National team director Pierluigi Tami welcomed the reaction from their record-capped captain while stressing the need for the squad to remain fully focused on upcoming matches.

Legal outlook and club reaction

Document forgery in Switzerland carries heavy potential punishments including large fines or a prison sentence of up to five years. However, legal experts consider a custodial sentence for the Premier League star to be highly unlikely.

Authorities expect to question the Sunderland midfielder in early October to determine the full extent of the criminal behaviour. Meanwhile, club manager Regis Le Bris refused to be drawn into the controversy following his side’s defeat at Manchester City.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Le Bris told journalists that his focus remains strictly on on-field matters rather than off-pitch issues.

It’s not my area to speak about those problems or situations. My area is football. About football, he is really good.

Xhaka arrived at Sunderland in 2025 after a spell with Bayer Leverkusen and previously captained his country to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.