Xhaka under investigation over Covid-19 certificate

ByFfion Wynne BBC Sport Journalist.

Key points

• Switzerland have away fixtures against North Macedonia and Scotland on 26 and 29 September, before facing Slovenia and North Macedonia at home in early October.
• When it was a requirement in Switzerland for some travel abroad, the 33-year-old is alleged to have obtained the certificate in 2022.
• Sunderland boss Regis le Bris refused to comment on the allegations after the Black Cats' defeat at Manchester City on Sunday.
• Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka is under investigation by Swiss prosecutors over allegations he obtained a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate.
• Xhaka captained Switzerland at the World Cup earlier this year, where they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by eventual runners-up Argentina.

In practice, the public prosecutor's office of the city of Lucerne confirmed the investigation was under way to determine whether any criminal behaviour took place in obtaining a "false or forged" certificate.

Notably, the Sunderland midfielder. This person was playing for Arsenal at the time, posted a statement on social media on Monday saying he had a "mistrust" towards the vaccine and had been "influenced by worries and uncertainty".

He remarked: In this troubled state of mind I acquired a vaccine certificate, instead of clarifying my unanswered questions in the proper way.

Today I see clearly, that this way was not correct. It was a mistake. I'm sorry.

"I take responsibility for this decision, will engage with the process of establishing the facts and fully co-operate with the relevant authorities."

According to The Swiss office of public health, while there was never a general legal requirement to obtain or hold such a certificate, it was needed for access to various activities, venues and travel, meaning that participation was restricted for anyone who did not possess one.

These measures in Switzerland were in place until spring 2022. After that point, Covid-19 certificates continued to be issued, primarily to enable members of the public to meet entry requirements when travelling abroad.

Notably, the Swiss Football Association remarked Xhaka, the country's record appearance holder with 152 caps, had withdrawn from the Swiss camp for their upcoming Nations League matches against Scotland, North Macedonia and Slovenia after his statement.

It continued the decision to withdraw had been produced jointly by the player and management and that they would discuss Xhaka's future with the team after the international window.

"It is not my area to speak about those problems or situations, " he remarked. "My area is football. Regarding football, he is really good."

For now, xhaka under investigation over Covid remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.