Switzerland’s national team captain Granit Xhaka has been excluded from the current international training camp. The decision follows his public confession regarding the acquisition of a falsified COVID-19 vaccination certificate, according to an announcement from the Swiss Football Association (SFV).
The 33-year-old Sunderland midfielder, who has represented his country a record 152 times since his debut in 2011, took to social media to explain his actions. Xhaka detailed that he purchased the fraudulent document during a period of high anxiety instead of resolving his lingering questions through official medical channels. “In this agitated emotional state, I acquired a vaccination certificate instead of clarifying my open questions through the intended path,” the veteran player wrote. “Today I see clearly that this path was not right. It was a mistake. I am sorry.”
Cooperation and SFV Response
The Swiss captain confirmed he is working collaboratively with the appropriate authorities. SFV President Peter Knaebel revealed that Xhaka disclosed the situation to team leaders on Sunday evening, pledging to address the matter openly and accept the consequences. Knaebel acknowledged the player’s transparency but noted that both parties agreed his absence is currently the best path forward for the squad.
- Xhaka is cooperating fully with ongoing official inquiries.
- The national squad has gathered in Belek, Turkiye, to train for upcoming matches.
- The upcoming fixture schedule includes away matches against North Macedonia and Scotland.
- The Swiss team will subsequently host matches against Slovenia and North Macedonia.
Knaebel emphasized that keeping Xhaka away from the camp will help the team maintain focus and calm ahead of their critical UEFA Nations League fixtures. The SFV has stated that it will conduct a formal reassessment of the captain’s situation once the international fixtures are completed. The report also notes that who plays for Sunderland in the Premier League, made his international debut in 2011 and is Switzerland’s all-time record appearance holder with 152 caps, the midfielder.
