Swiss prosecutors in Lucerne have opened criminal proceedings involving Granit Xhaka over the validity of a COVID-19 vaccination certificate, putting the Switzerland captain under investigation by Swiss authorities.
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According to Swiss newspaper Blick, the case is connected to a doctor in Lucerne whose medical practice was searched by police in 2023. Authorities seized documents and other materials during the operation, which are now being examined as part of the investigation.
Xhaka, who currently plays for Sunderland, has denied the allegations. His representative, Andreas Bantel, said the midfielder has documentation from the doctor confirming that he received two COVID-19 vaccinations, on January 25 and November 11, 2022.
The Lucerne Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the validity and circumstances surrounding that documentation.
Swiss authorities are expected to question the 33-year-old Xhaka at the beginning of October.
Xhaka previously tested positive for COVID-19 in September 2021. The vaccination certificate case has now returned to the attention of Swiss authorities as part of the ongoing investigation.