Xhaka posted on social media, admitting that he had forged proof of his COVID-19 vaccination and stating that he would cooperate with the investigation.

Xhaka wrote: “Recently, there have been numerous reports regarding an incident from my past, and I would like to respond to this matter personally. At the time, I was personally very uncertain about whether to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and was extremely anxious. I felt a deep mistrust of the vaccine and was deeply affected by fear and uncertainty.”

“In the heat of the moment, rather than seeking clarification through proper channels regarding the unanswered questions I had, I went ahead and obtained a vaccination certificate. I now fully recognise that this was a mistake and not the correct course of action. I offer my sincere apologies for this; I take full responsibility for this decision and will cooperate fully with the fact-finding process and assist the relevant authorities in their work.”