Switzerland captain Xhaka to miss four Nations League games

Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka will miss the next four Nations League matches after admitting to using a forged Covid vaccine certificate, the Swiss FA has announced.

Granit Xhaka will be unavailable for Switzerland's upcoming Nations League matches. The 33-year-old midfielder and captain has admitted to using a forged Covid-19 vaccine certificate and will consequently miss four competitive fixtures, the Swiss Football Association (SFV) confirmed on Tuesday.

Xhaka published his admission on his social media channels on Monday. "At the time, I was very worried about the issue of Covid-19 vaccination," the Arsenal player wrote. "I felt deep mistrust regarding the vaccine and was gripped by anxiety and doubt." He now sees his choice as wrong and a mistake, expressing his regret. Xhaka stated he is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities, with the Lucerne public prosecutor's office investigating the matter.

The SFV acted swiftly, excluding Xhaka from the imminent international break. He will not join the training camp in Belek, Turkey, starting Monday, and will also be omitted from selection for the next four Nations League games. SFV president Peter Knabel said they welcome the fact that Xhaka is taking this step and is prepared to fully clarify the situation. "We mutually concluded it was in the team's best interest to proceed without Granit," Knabel stated. The priority is now to calm the situation and focus on the team and the upcoming fixtures.

Nations League Start Without Captain

Switzerland begin their Nations League campaign away to North Macedonia on Saturday. This is followed by an away match in Scotland on 29 September and home games against Slovenia and North Macedonia on 3 and 6 October in Lucerne. The association said the situation with Xhaka will only be reassessed after this international window, with next steps discussed then.

The absence of the experienced captain hits the squad during a key period. Switzerland currently top their World Cup qualifying group with seven points from three games and have shown solid recent form with three wins, one draw, and one defeat (LDWWW) in their last five outings. The remaining Nations League matches in November against Slovenia and Scotland are now likely to be played without the long-term leader.

For manager Murat Yakin, the situation presents an unplanned challenge for team selection. In addition to Xhaka, the injured Aurèle Amenda, Luca Jaquez, Rubén Vargas, and Silvan Widmer are also missing for the upcoming camp. Who will assume the leadership role in Xhaka's absence is one of the most pressing questions ahead of Saturday's opener.