Overview
- Xhaka publicly acknowledged on Monday that he obtained a forged COVID-19 vaccination certificate from 2022 and apologised, saying he acted while emotionally unsettled and mistrustful of the vaccine.
- The Prosecutor's Office of the Canton of Lucerne has launched a formal investigation to determine whether document forgery or related offences took place and Xhaka is expected to be questioned in the coming weeks.
- Swiss reports link the case to a Lucerne doctor whose practice was searched by police in 2023; the doctor denies wrongdoing and both sides have presented conflicting accounts and paperwork that investigators must verify.
- By mutual agreement with the Swiss Football Association, Xhaka will miss the upcoming UEFA Nations League camp to keep the squad focused while legal steps proceed and the federation will reassess his role after the international window.
- Under Swiss law falsifying health documents can carry fines or, in theory, up to five years in prison, though past cases often resulted in fines or suspended sentences and the outcome will depend on the probe's findings.