Switzerland and Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka has confirmed he has been placed on a two-year probation period following his admission regarding the acquisition of a fraudulent Covid-19 vaccination certificate. The veteran midfielder took to social media to address the legal resolution of a case that has recently overshadowed his international career.
In the wake of the vaccination affair surrounding the Switzerland national team and the investigations against Manchester City, Manuel Akanji has raised eyebrows.
The tournament might not kick-off for the best part of two years, but the extended international break offered some early clues as to how the challengers are shaping up
Switzerland are on the verge of securing promotion back to the top tier of the Nations League, but head coach Murat Yakin believes the job is far from finished. Following a perfect start to their campaign, the manager has turned his attention to the reintegration of two of his most vital senior figures.
Switzerland maintained their perfect Nations League record with a resilient 2-1 victory over Slovenia, overcoming an incredibly early setback in Lucerne. Nottingham Forest star Dan Ndoye proved to be the hero, netting the decisive goal to ensure his side made it three wins from three matches.
John McGinn admitted Scotland endured a major reality check under Sebastien Pocognoli after being thoroughly outclassed in a 3-0 Nations League defeat against Switzerland. An early red card for Jack Hendry paved the way for a bruising evening at Hampden Park, leaving the newly appointed manager still searching for his first victory in the dugout.
Switzerland have been rocked by further controversy after Breel Embolo became the second high-profile star to be removed from their Nations League squad. The Atlanta United forward follows captain Granit Xhaka in withdrawing from international duty due to ongoing legal issues regarding forged COVID-19 certificates.
Granit Xhaka has officially withdrawn from the Switzerland national team squad after admitting to the fraudulent acquisition of a Covid-19 vaccination certificate. The Sunderland captain, who was playing for Arsenal at the time of the incident in 2022, described the decision as a "mistake" and will now face a legal inquiry in his homeland.
Noah Okafor is taking part in the 2026 World Cup with the Switzerland national team. He has now announced his retirement - and made serious accusations against coach Murat Yakin.