Xhaka cleared to play for Switzerland again after Covid certificate scandal
Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo have both been cleared to return to the Switzerland national team next month, following an investigation into how the pair obtained fake Covid-19 vaccination certificates.
Switzerland captain Xhaka, 34, agreed to sit out October's Nations League matches against Scotland, North Macedonia and Slovenia after admitting he had acquired a forged certificate to travel abroad while he was still an Arsenal player back in 2022. Embolo, 29, now at Atlanta United, was also dropped from the squad in September for the same reason.
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The Swiss Football Association (SFV) confirmed on Tuesday that both players, Xhaka now at Sunderland, will be available for selection again ahead of November's fixtures against Slovenia and Scotland.
Switzerland director Pierluigi Tami explained the reasoning behind the decision. “We considered this from various perspectives. The specific circumstances of both cases, the concluded legal proceedings, and the sporting consequences already implemented all factored into the decision,” he said. “We are convinced that a return to the national team in November is responsible and the right thing to do.”
Fines and legal consequences
Both Xhaka and Embolo were fined 150,000 Swiss francs, around £136,000, with the penalties suspended for two years on the condition that neither commits a further offence.
The SFV also confirmed that Xhaka has not been stripped of the national team captaincy, though head coach Murat Yakin retains the authority to remove him from the role if he sees fit. Xhaka labelled his actions a “mistake” in a public apology last month and remains Switzerland's record appearance maker, with 152 caps heading into the November break.
What happens next
Yakin is due to name his Nations League squad for the November fixtures on November 5, with both Xhaka and Embolo expected to be included after their suspensions from the squad were effectively limited to the October window.
Xhaka spent seven years at Arsenal before leaving for Bayer Leverkusen in 2023, where he won the Bundesliga title, and has since moved to the Premier League with Sunderland. The scandal dates back to his time in north London but only became public knowledge once Swiss prosecutors concluded their investigation this year.
With the legal and disciplinary processes now closed, attention turns to how Yakin manages the senior pair's reintegration into the national set up as Switzerland continue their Nations League campaign in November.
