{
  "id": 8932375,
  "title": "Switzerland to play without Xhaka over fake Covid certificate",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/switzerland-to-play-without-xhaka-over-fake-covid-certificate-8932375",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T13:36:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2026/09/1537860/switzerland-play-without-xhaka-over-fake-covid-certificate"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Switzerland have announced that their next four matches in the Nations League will be played without captain Granit Xhaka. The 33-year-old midfielder admitted to using a forged Covid vaccine certificate during the pandemic, revealing his decision via social media on Monday. Xhaka expressed deep mistrust and anxiety about the vaccine, admitting his mistake and apologizing to the public. The Lucerne public prosecutor's office is currently investigating the matter. The Swiss Football Association, in agreement with Xhaka, decided he would not join the national team for a training camp in Turkey. Following Xhaka's statement, he will not participate in the men's national team's upcoming gathering. Switzerland begins their campaign against North Macedonia on Saturday and faces Scotland on September 29. Subsequent matches include games against Slovenia and North Macedonia in October, with reassessment of Xhaka's involvement planned at the end of the international window.",
  "summary": "GENEVA: Switzerland will have to play their next four Nations League matches without captain Granit Xhaka, who admitted Monday to having used a forged Covid vaccine certificate during the pandemic.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "World : Xhaka Says He Obtained Vaccination Certificates Without Getting Covid Shot",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/world-xhaka-says-he-obtained-vaccination-certificates-without-getting",
        "published": "2026-09-21T09:49:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Forged Covid vaccine certificate lands Granit Xhaka in trouble",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/forged-covid-vaccine-certificate-lands-granit-xhaka-in-trouble",
        "published": "2026-09-21T10:50:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Swiss captain Xhaka admits obtaining Covid vaccination certificates without jab",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/swiss-captain-xhaka-admits-obtaining-covid-vaccination-certificates",
        "published": "2026-09-21T11:09:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Swiss captain Xhaka sidelined over fake COVID certificate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/swiss-captain-xhaka-sidelined-over-fake-covid-certificate-8912710",
        "published": "2026-09-21T11:29:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Swiss captain Xhaka sidelined over fake COVID certificate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/swiss-captain-xhaka-sidelined-over-fake-covid-certificate",
        "published": "2026-09-21T11:31:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Swiss captain Xhaka sidelined over fake COVID certificate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/swiss-captain-xhaka-sidelined-over-fake-covid-certificate-8914693",
        "published": "2026-09-21T11:55:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport Football",
        "title": "Xhaka under investigation over Covid-19 certificate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/xhaka-under-investigation-over-covid-19-certificate",
        "published": "2026-09-21T12:21:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Switzerland to play without Xhaka over fake Covid certificate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/switzerland-to-play-without-xhaka-over-fake-covid-certificate",
        "published": "2026-09-21T13:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}