Granit Xhaka under investigation for purchasing fake Covid-19 vaccination certificate

Granit Xhaka, captain of the Swiss national football team and Sunderland midfielder, is currently under investigation by the Lucerne public prosecutor's office. The probe follows a discovery at a medical clinic in Lucerne that allegedly issued fraudulent vaccination certificates during the Covid-19 pandemic. Xhaka is suspected of obtaining one of these documents without having received the actual vaccine.

After initially denying the allegations, the 33-year-old athlete publicly admitted to purchasing the fake certificate via social media. He cited intense fear, uncertainty, and personal reservations regarding the vaccine during that period as his motivation for the act, acknowledging that his decision was a mistake. The investigation also involves a doctor based in Lucerne who is suspected of issuing the illicit document.

Legal experts suggest that if convicted of forgery, Xhaka could face significant penalties, ranging from a fine of up to 10,580 euros to a prison sentence of up to five years. However, due to his lack of a prior criminal record, a suspended sentence or a fine is considered more likely by legal analysts. The player is scheduled to appear before the prosecutor in early October to address the charges, while continuing his professional playing career in the meantime.