Embolo and Xhaka Excluded from Swiss Squad Over Fake Covid Certificates

Accra:Striker Breel Embolo has been omitted from the Swiss national team for the upcoming Nations League matches due to sanctions related to the use of forged Covid-19 test certificates during the pandemic. According to Ghana Web, Embolo is the second player to be excluded from the squad this week, following the dismissal of team captain Granit Xhaka, who admitted to using a fake certificate to avoid mandatory vaccination. The Swiss football association announced on Friday that Embolo would not be called up, though they did not provide a specific reason. Swiss media, however, reported that his omission is linked to a fine imposed in November 2025 after he falsely claimed to have passed Covid tests. Details of Embolo's sanction were recently revealed by the Schweiz Heute outlet. Embolo, who previously played for Monaco and Rennes, acknowledged his misconduct in an interview with the St. Galler Tagblatt, stating that he had realized his actions were incorrect and accepted responsibility. Xhaka, meanwhile, ad mitted his wrongdoing publicly on Monday, expressing his mistrust of the vaccine and the anxiety it caused him. The Swiss FA has indicated that Xhaka's case will be reviewed after the current international window. Switzerland is set to begin their Nations League campaign away to North Macedonia on Saturday, followed by a match against Scotland on September 29. Embolo would have been suspended for the first game due to a red card received during the World Cup quarter-finals against Argentina.