Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka and striker Breel Embolo will return to international contention next month after completing investigations into forged COVID-19 vaccination certificates.
The Swiss Football Association confirmed on Tuesday that both players will be available for manager Murat Yakin to select for the upcoming November fixtures against Slovenia and Scotland. Xhaka, the 34-year-old Sunderland midfielder, previously missed Nations League matches against Scotland, North Macedonia, and Slovenia during the October international break after admitting to acquiring a fraudulent certificate that permitted travel and competition in 2022. Embolo, 29, was similarly dropped from the national squad in September for the same offense.
National team director Pierluigi Tami outlined the reasoning behind the reinstatement, noting that officials evaluated multiple factors before reaching their conclusion. Tami stated that authorities considered various perspectives, including the specific circumstances surrounding both cases, the finalization of legal proceedings, and the sporting consequences that were already enforced. Officials expressed confidence that bringing the players back into the fold in November represents a responsible and appropriate course of action.
Legal penalties accompanied the infractions, with both Xhaka and Embolo receiving fines of 150,000 Swiss francs, equivalent to approximately £136,000. In addition to the financial penalties, each player was handed a two-year suspension on the condition that no further offenses are committed. Xhaka accepted full responsibility for his actions and retained his position as team captain, though the association clarified that the ultimate authority regarding the captaincy rests with manager Yakin.
Yakin is scheduled to announce his official squad selection on November 5. Switzerland currently leads Group E ahead of their final two Nations League matches, which are scheduled against Slovenia on November 13 and Scotland on November 16.
