Granit Xhaka under investigation for alleged forged COVID-19 certificate

Granit Xhaka, captain of the Swiss national football team and player for Sunderland, is under criminal investigation by the Public Prosecutor's Office in Lucerne. The investigation concerns allegations that he obtained a forged COVID-19 vaccination certificate during the pandemic.

The probe follows a 2023 police raid on a medical practice in Lucerne, where authorities seized evidence suggesting a doctor may have issued numerous fraudulent vaccination certificates. Prosecutors are working to determine if criminal acts involving document forgery or fraudulent procurement occurred.

Xhaka's legal representatives deny the allegations, stating he possesses medical documentation confirming he received two doses of the vaccine in early 2022. He is expected to appear before the Lucerne Prosecutor's Office in early October to provide testimony. Legal experts note that document forgery in Switzerland is a serious offense that can carry fines or prison sentences of up to five years.