Overview
- Xhaka said he purchased the vaccination certificate because he felt fear and uncertainty, called the act a mistake and pledged to take responsibility and fully cooperate with authorities.
- The public prosecutor in the canton of Lucerne is investigating the certificate as a possible forgery and plans to question Xhaka in early October.
- Swiss Football Association chief Peter Knäbel said the team will prepare this week without Xhaka and that his status will be reassessed after the international break.
- Swiss tabloid reporting says police searched a doctor’s practice in 2023 and seized material linked to the wider probe, a detail the prosecutor’s office is examining.
- Xhaka is Switzerland’s captain and a key player for Bayer Leverkusen, so the legal process could directly affect his role with the national team and his availability for upcoming matches.