The Covid saga around Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka is not going to die down anytime soon, with the doctor involved now having her say.
After the revelations of this week – and the potential of a prison sentence over fake documents – now we have the latest developments from today’s print edition of Blick.
First up is Switzerland manager Murat Yakin, who has defended the Sunderland man as the controversy continues to grow.
“Granit has realised he made a mistake,” he said.
“He is sorry and has publicly taken responsibility for his behaviour. By sitting out this national team gathering, he wants to protect the squad during this phase of loud and controversial public debate, allowing them to focus fully on the important Nations League matches.
“From a sporting perspective, it is obviously a great shame that I have to do without him. But we both agreed that it was the right decision at this moment.”
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The Switzerland manager is in constant contact with the Sunderland midfielder about the situation as they wait for proceedings to develop.
“Granit and I are in constant communication. He is very reflective and clear-headed; he thinks and acts for the good of the team. I really value that,” added Yakin.
The focus at the minute is how his international future will unfold. Yakin is convinced that a solution will be found that suits everyone.
“Our president has already commented on this, stating that the SFV intends to discuss the situation with Granit after the four international matches. And I am convinced we will find a good solution for everyone,” he concluded.
What the doctor has said
Further storm clouds could be on the horizon, though. Blick now report that the doctor involved in the case is contradicting the Sunderland star.
The Swiss newspaper were able to speak to the doctor who administered the vaccine – Andrea L. – and she insists “I vaccinated Xhaka correctly!”. In other words, the certificate she issued to the midfielder was not false and completely correct.
“The events of the last few days have been surprising and, at the same time, distressing,” she added. “I hope the whole situation resolves positively soon.”
The doctor, who continues to work at this point, then spoke about her experiences during the coronavirus pandemic. She began administering vaccinations in 2021 alongside a well-know pharmacist.
“Granit Xhaka approached us in early 2022 to obtain a Covid certificate,” she explained.
“Since he already possessed antibodies, the first vaccination was intended to serve as a booster. I was one of the first people in Lucerne to get vaccinated. I treated Covid with great respect, I was not a vaccine sceptic.”
But, Blick’s efforts have revealed more. They uncovered a police search of her practice in 2023 stemming from a criminal complaint filed by a health insurance provider. That was based on suspicions that the doctor had sold excessive amounts of medication to patients.
During the search, evidence was taken, and police came across various Covid-related files. One of them bore the name of Granit Xhaka. Now the doctor is contradicting Xhaka, although that is perhaps an obvious response to the situation.
What it does mean is that this is unlikely to be resolved quickly, even if Yakin is confident that everything will work out fine in the long-term.
Brotherly support for Sunderland captain
Granit Xhaka’s older brother Taulant, he of not being trusted with the house keys fame, has naturally supported the Sunderland captain.
In a post on Instagram, he said: “Everyone makes mistakes. Nobody is perfect! Please never forget one thing: what Granit Xhaka, my brother, has done for Switzerland all these years. How much heart, passion, and pride he has shown for this country and for this shirt.
“You too have made mistakes in life. It happens to everyone. The important thing isn’t to never make mistakes, but to take responsibility for them, acknowledge them, and learn from them. Family will always be family. In good times and difficult times.”
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