The Lucerne public prosecutor’s office is investigating Swiss national football team captain Granit Xhaka over suspected document falsification and the procurement of a false certification related to Covid-19 certificates, according to reports by Blick and 20 Minuten.
Lucerne Prosecutor Investigates Xhaka and Treating Physician
According to Simon Kopp, the information officer for the Lucerne public prosecutor’s office, authorities are examining whether the 33-year-old midfielder and a Lucerne-based physician engaged in criminal conduct regarding Covid-19 documentation.
Investigators are reviewing two primary scenarios. In the first scenario, prosecutors are investigating whether the physician knowingly entered a vaccination that never took place, which could constitute document falsification or false certification for the doctor, while Xhaka could face scrutiny as an instigator, accomplice, or for using an untruthful document. In the second scenario, investigators are exploring whether the doctor was deceived by the player into issuing a certificate in good faith. Both Xhaka and the physician maintain the presumption of innocence.
Legal Framework and Potential Penalties Under Swiss Law
Swiss attorney Fabian Teichmann, a specialist in criminal proceedings with Teichmann International (Schweiz) AG, explained to 20 Minuten that a Covid-19 certificate qualifies legally as a document under Swiss criminal law. For document falsification, the Swiss Criminal Code provides a conditional prison sentence of up to five years or a conditional monetary penalty.
Teichmann noted that conditional monetary penalties are calculated using daily rates based on personal and financial circumstances, which can reach up to 3,000 Swiss francs per day. Depending on the final assessment by authorities, a conditional monetary penalty in the six-figure range remains legally possible. In addition to the conditional penalty, a convicted individual would typically pay a fine of up to 10,000 Swiss francs alongside associated procedural costs.
Defense Position and Upcoming Interrogation
Andreas Bantel, a spokesperson for Xhaka, stated that the player stands ready to cooperate fully and transparently with authorities. Bantel added that Xhaka possesses written confirmation from the treating physician stating he received his first dose on January 25, 2022, and his second dose on November 11, 2022.
As a formal suspect in the investigation, Xhaka holds specific procedural rights under Swiss law, including the right to remain silent, review case files, and request independent evidence. An initial interrogation before the Lucerne public prosecutor is scheduled for early October.
The Swiss Football Association (SFV) stated that it currently lacks reliable information regarding the probe and cannot provide further comment. Once prosecutors conclude their investigation and complete the October questioning, Teichmann outlines three potential outcomes: the public prosecutor’s office can drop the case if evidence is insufficient, issue a penal order for smaller sentences, or file formal charges for a trial in court.
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