Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is under investigation by Swiss prosecutors for allegedly obtaining a fake Covid vaccination certificate without being vaccinated.
The public prosecutor's office of the Canton of Lucerne opened criminal proceedings against the 33-year-old Sunderland player and a Lucerne-based doctor. Authorities suspect that an official attestation confirming vaccination was issued for Xhaka despite the midfielder never receiving the shot.
According to a report by Swiss news outlet Blick, police raided the doctor's practice in 2023. Investigators believe the doctor issued fraudulent certificates to numerous individuals alongside the Swiss national team captain.
Legal consequences and potential penalties
Under Swiss law, document forgery carries severe legal penalties. Criminal law specialist André Kuhn told Blick that forgery of documents can be punished by a monetary penalty or a prison sentence of up to five years.
Kuhn added that several factors must be considered during sentencing and a suspended sentence remains possible. He noted that an individual with no prior criminal record could expect a suspended financial penalty alongside a maximum fine of 10,000 Swiss francs.
Background and international career
Xhaka currently plays as a midfielder for Sunderland, having previously spent seven years at English Premier League club Arsenal. The 33-year-old player is a central figure in Swiss football, having earned 152 caps for the Switzerland national team and captained his country at the last World Cup.
The Canton of Lucerne is located in central Switzerland, where public prosecutors manage criminal investigations for the region. Covid certificates were introduced during the pandemic across Switzerland to verify an individual's vaccination or health status for travel and entry into public venues.
Upcoming prosecutor hearing
The Swiss captain is due to appear before the public prosecutor's office in early October to address the allegations.
