Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris refused to comment on allegations relating to Granit Xhaka and a ‘fake’ Covid-19 certificate obtained during the pandemic.
The veteran midfielder has been axed from the Switzerland squad for the international break as a result of the allegations. Xhaka says he made a ‘mistake’ and will comply the relevant authorities during a hearing over the international break.
The Swiss office of public health acknowledges there was no general legal requirement to hold a vaccination certificate, but one was needed to access certain activities, venues and travel both domestically and abroad, with those measures in place until Spring 2022.
In a statement released this morning, the Swiss Football Association said Xhaka had withdrawn from the Swiss camp, and his future with the team would be discussed after the international window, while the player says he’ll comply fully with the investigation.
Le Bris was asked about the saga following Sunderland’s defeat to Manchester City over the weekend, but Le Bris did not comment.
The Black Cats boss said: “It is not my area to speak about those problems or situations. My area is football. About football, he is really good.”
An investigation has been launched by the Lucerne public prosecutor’s office to establish whether the midfielder actually received the vaccination or simply acquired the certificate.
Xhaka tested positive for Coronavirus back in 2022 during his time at Arsenal and was sidelined for a month following his positive test result.
In 2023, a doctor in Lucerne faced investigation for allegedly issuing Covid certificates to clients without actually administering the vaccination. The solicitor representing the doctor, Cornel Borbély, claiming they “vaccinated Xhaka”.
In a statement released on social media this morning, Xhaka said: “In recent days, there has been much reporting about a matter from my past. I would like to address this personally.
“Regarding the Covid-19 vaccination, I was personally very uncertain and had serious concerns at the time. I felt deep distrust of the vaccine and was plagued by fear and uncertainty.
“In this turbulent emotional state, I obtained a vaccination certificate instead of clarifying my open questions through the proper channels. Today, I clearly see that this was the wrong course of action. It was a mistake. I am sorry.
“I take responsibility for this decision, am committed to investigating the matter, and am fully cooperating with the relevant authorities.”
Sunderland AFC would not comment on the allegations when contacted by reporters.
Be the first to comment