After months away from the international stage following a forged document scandal, captain Granit Xhaka and striker Breel Embolo are stepping back onto the pitch for Switzerland. According to Al Jazeera, citing reports from AFP and Reuters, the two players are available for selection for next month's Nations League matches following the completion of legal proceedings and their sporting suspensions.
According to AFP and Reuters as reported by Al Jazeera, the Swiss Football Association (SFV) announced on Tuesday that both Xhaka and Embolo will once again be considered for the national team starting in November. The pair missed the first four Nations League fixtures held in September and October after investigations revealed they used fake COVID-19 certificates during the pandemic.
Al Jazeera reported that Xhaka, the 34-year-old Sunderland midfielder who holds a Swiss record of 152 caps, admitted to obtaining a fake certificate to avoid mandatory jabs. Atlanta United forward Embolo, 29, similarly acknowledged that a penal order against him concerned fake COVID certificates. Both players received a suspended fine of 150,000 Swiss francs ($181,225) with a probationary period of two years, as detailed by the agencies.
The SFV stated that it thoroughly examined both cases before concluding that the players' return was justifiable. National team director Pierluigi Tami stated, as reported by Al Jazeera, that the return is "both responsible and the right course of action." Additionally, coach Murat Yakin, his staff, and the players' council unanimously decided that Xhaka will retain his role as team captain.
Background
According to Al Jazeera, the controversy unfolded when the Lucerne public prosecutor's office opened an investigation into Xhaka in late September as the Swiss squad gathered, prompting him to step down from the team. Embolo withdrew from the squad for similar reasons a few days later. Consequently, both players missed the September and October Nations League matches, resulting in four missed international appearances each. Following these events, the SFV announced new guidelines for handling future matters involving criminal law.
Why it matters
For sports observers and international football fans, the case highlights the intersection of athletes' legal accountability, personal conduct during global health crises, and the governance decisions made by national sports bodies. The resolution of the case and the subsequent return of key players illustrate how sports federations weigh legal outcomes and sporting penalties when deciding team selections.
What's next
According to Al Jazeera, coach Murat Yakin will announce his squad for the final two Nations League group matches on November 5, with Xhaka and Embolo included on the shortlist. Switzerland, currently top of Group B1 with four straight wins, will travel to face second-placed Slovenia on November 13, and then host Scotland in St Gallen three days later.