Xhaka withdraws from Swiss squad over Covid-19 probe
What Happened Switzerland’s captain Granit Xhaka has withdrawn from the national squad after Swiss prosecutors opened an investigation into a alleged forged Covid‐19 vaccination certificate, according to BBC Sport. The 33‐year‐old midfielder is accused of obtaining the certificate in 2022, when a vaccine passport was required for certain travel abroad, per the same source. Chronology The public prosecutor’s office in the city of Lucerne confirmed that it is examining whether any criminal conduct occurred in obtaining a “false or forged” certificate, as reported by BBC Sport. Xhaka’s statement on social media was posted on Monday, in which he explained that he acted “in a troubled state of mind” and that the decision was a mistake, according to the same source. The withdrawal from the squad was announced jointly by the player and the Swiss Football Association, with plans to discuss his future after the current international window, per BBC Sport. The Reaction In his personal messa...