Xhaka and Embolo cleared to return for Switzerland after fake Covid certificate ban

Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo are free to represent Switzerland again in November after the Swiss Football Association (SFV) closed its investigation into the pair’s use of forged Covid-19 vaccination certificates. Both players received suspended fines of 150,000 Swiss francs ($181,225) each, subject to a two-year probationary period.

Xhaka, who captains Sunderland at club level, admitted acquiring a fake certificate in order to travel and compete in 2022. Under an agreement with the SFV, he sat out Switzerland’s October Nations League fixtures against Scotland, Slovenia and North Macedonia. Embolo, a striker with MLS club Atlanta United, was dropped from the squad in September for the same reason, missing four international matches in total.

“The SFV has examined the two cases comprehensively and has come to the conclusion that the return of the players after the conclusion of the legal proceedings and taking into account the sporting consequences — four missed international matches in September and October — is justifiable,” the SFV said in a statement on Tuesday.

National team director Pierluigi Tami added: “We are convinced that a return to the national team in November is responsible and right.”

Xhaka issued a public apology last month, citing “a deep mistrust of the vaccine” as his motivation. “I obtained a vaccination certificate instead of addressing my unresolved questions through the proper channels,” he said. “I now clearly see that this was the wrong course of action. It was a mistake. I am sorry.”

The SFV also confirmed that Xhaka’s captaincy status within the national team will not be stripped as a direct consequence of the investigation, noting that the decision on the armband rests with the squad and head coach Murat Yakin.

Switzerland currently sit top of Nations League Group E with 12 points from four wins, and face Slovenia and Scotland in their final two group games next month.