Granit Xhaka Releases Statement Amid Prison Fears
Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka has released a statement amid fears he could face five years in prison back in his home country of Switzerland.
Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka has released a statement amid fears he could face five years in prison back in his home country of Switzerland.
Reports in Switzerland over the weekend claimed the investigations centred on whether Xhaka had secured a certificate proving he had received the coronavirus vaccine – despite never actually being vaccinated.
The Swiss media also reported he was due to appear before the public prosecutor’s office at the beginning of October to answer questions. Now, the Premier League star, 33, has broken his silence on the matter.
“A matter has been reported on in recent days, and I would like to comment on it personally,” Xhaka said in a statement he released on Monday morning. He continued (see his words in full below):
“At the time, I was personally very unsettled and had serious reservations regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. I harboured deep mistrust of the vaccine and was gripped by fear and uncertainty. In this agitated state of mind, I obtained a vaccination certificate instead of clarifying my outstanding questions through the proper channels.
“Today I see clearly that this path was not the right one. It was a mistake. I am sorry. I accept responsibility for this decision, am addressing the examination of the facts, and am cooperating fully with the relevant authorities.”
The statement comes after he previously refused to comment on the situation following the Black Cats’ dramatic 5-3 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
After the goal-fest, NZZ in Switzerland caught up with the 33-year-old to ask him about the investigation. When responding to that, the former Arsenal midfielder made it clear he only wants to think about his performances on the pitch.
“There’s no comment on that. I played football today. And that’s what matters to me right now,” he said, as per Sport Witness. When pressed further whether it has impacted him, Xhaka explained: “Not at all, I’ve had worse things happen.” Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris also refused to comment on the subject. The coach said his area is football and Xhaka is “very good” at it.
Xhaka tested positive for covid in September 2022, forcing him to miss that month’s matches for his country. In 2023, a Lucerne doctor came under investigation for allegedly issuing Covid certificates to her clients without them taking vaccinations.
Her lawyer, Cornel Borbely, has confirmed she “vaccinated Xhaka”. Now that it turns out he hasn’t been, Blue News have reported that the worst-case scenario for the midfielder could see him serve a five-year prison sentence.
If Xhaka were to be convicted of forgery of documents under Article 251 of the German Criminal Code (StGB), he would face the aformentioned severe penalty of a jail term up to five years or a hefty fine. The same applies to the offense of obtaining a false certification under Section 253 of the Swiss Criminal Code.
