Football: Switzerland pardons Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo ahead of November matches

Switzerland's football federation announced that Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo have been pardoned and are cleared to rejoin the national team for the upcoming November fixtures.

Both players were sanctioned by a court for obtaining false COVID certificates related to incidents during the 2022 pandemic. The judicial outcome imposed a fine of 150,000 francs on each player and a two-year suspended sentence.

The federation said it reviewed the case in full and concluded the matter has reached a legal conclusion and that sporting penalties have already been applied.

Return to squad and captaincy question

“We have analysed the whole picture in detail, examined all specifics of the process, the fact that legal procedures have been concluded and that the players have already suffered certain sporting sanctions. We firmly believe that their return to the national team in November is fully justified and a mature move,” said Pierluigi Tami, the national team director.

Switzerland are scheduled to face Scotland and Slovenia in November, and head coach Murat Yakin will announce the final squad on 5 November. A key decision for Yakin is whether Xhaka will keep the captain's armband after the off-field controversy.

The federation's move ends an episode that drew wide attention during the pandemic; both players now face the immediate prospect of international action instead of prolonged suspension from the national setup.

Photo: press material from the event