{
  "id": 16847209,
  "title": "Captain Xhaka allowed to play for Switzerland again",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/captain-xhaka-allowed-to-play-for-switzerland-again",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T04:31:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/captain-xhaka-allowed-to-play-for-switzerland-again/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo will be permitted to represent Switzerland in international football again next month, according to a recent announcement. The two footballers had previously been banned for using forged Covid-19 vaccination certificates, which led to their exclusion from several matches during the October international break. Xhaka, the Swiss captain, had admitted to acquiring a fraudulent certificate that allowed him to travel and compete in 2022. Embolo, a 29-year-old striker, was also dropped from the national team for the same reason in September.\n\nSwitzerland's Football Association (SFV) has justified their decision to reinstate Xhaka and Embolo by taking into account the conclusions of legal proceedings and the sporting consequences already implemented. National team director Pierluigi Tami stated that the team believes a return to the national squad in November is a responsible and fitting choice.\n\nBoth Xhaka and Embolo received fines of 150,000 Swiss francs (£136,000) and were suspended for two years if they committed any further offenses. Despite being fined, Xhaka has not lost his captaincy, but the final decision on who will captivate the team remains with the coach, Murat Yakin. Yakin will reveal his team selection on November 5th.\n\nSwitzerland currently sits at the top of Group E in the Nations League, and they will face Slovenia and Scotland in their final two matches on November 13th and 16th.",
  "summary": "Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo will both be allowed to play for Switzerland again next month following an investigation into forged Covid-19 vaccination certificates obtained by the pair. Switzerland captain Xhaka missed Nations League matches against Scotland, North Macedonia and Slovenia during the October international break after admitting to acquiring a fake certificate which allowed […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "title": "Captain Xhaka allowed to play for Switzerland again",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/captain-xhaka-allowed-to-play-for-switzerland-again",
        "published": "2026-10-27T17:00:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Captain Xhaka allowed to play for Switzerland again",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/captain-xhaka-allowed-to-play-for-switzerland-again-16810848",
        "published": "2026-10-27T22:24:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}