Granit Xhaka, the Sunderland and Switzerland captain, has admitted to obtaining a fake Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022 when he was playing for Arsenal. He has been withdrawn from Switzerland's squad ahead of their Nations League fixtures and will face questioning by the prosecutor's office in Lucerne, which is investigating whether criminal charges should be brought regarding a doctor's alleged issuance of false vaccination certificates.

Xhaka stated via Instagram that he had serious concerns about the vaccine and obtained the false certificate instead of seeking proper clarification, describing it as a mistake for which he takes responsibility. The 33-year-old tested positive for Covid in September 2022 and has been capped 152 times by Switzerland; should charges be brought, he could theoretically face a five-year prison sentence or heavy fine, though imprisonment is considered extremely unlikely.