The “Xhaka” scandal takes another turn, doctor contradicts the captain: I vaccinated him myself

How was Granit Xhaka’s Covid certificate really created? His doctor, Andrea L. (54), insists that her patient was vaccinated. She also denies that her clinic has been closed.

Blick was able to speak with Andrea L.* (54), the doctor who issued Granit Xhaka the disputed vaccination certificate. She explains: “I vaccinated him properly.” This statement is surprising in this explosive case involving the Swiss national team captain. On Friday, Blick reported that Xhaka is under investigation. He is accused of allegedly obtaining a fake Covid certificate in 2022. The criminal investigation concerns possible forgery and the question of whether Xhaka may have fraudulently obtained a false document.

Xhaka admits buying the certificate

Initially, Xhaka’s entourage denied the allegations. His spokesperson, Andreas Bantel, stated: “He has confirmation from his treating doctor that he received his first Covid vaccination on January 25, 2022, and his second on November 11, 2022.” Bantel later corrected the date of the second vaccination to November 8.

On Monday, Xhaka dropped a “bombshell”: He admitted to obtaining a vaccination certificate. He explained: “I felt deep mistrust toward the vaccine and was overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty. In this emotionally confused state, I obtained a vaccination certificate instead of pursuing official channels to get answers to my unanswered questions. Today I can clearly see that this was the wrong course of action. It was a mistake. I am sorry.”

Doctor insists vaccination was properly administered

Now comes the latest development in this case: Despite the player’s admission of guilt, doctor Andrea L. says: “I vaccinated Xhaka properly!” The certificate she issued to the footballer is entirely accurate.

Blick met the doctor on Tuesday at her practice in Lucerne, which remains open and is operating normally. Andrea L. welcomed Blick for a brief conversation in the examination room. Her diplomas hung on the wall. She had received her medical license in Germany and her doctorate in Switzerland. The doctor looked stressed and tired. She allowed Blick to show her full photo, but asked that her surname be abbreviated. “The events of the past few days have been as surprising as they have been stressful,” she says. “I hope everything will be resolved positively soon.” She stresses that rumors about the practice closing are unfounded. “I am still available to my patients; the practice is, of course, open.” The doctor is constantly receiving calls from patients and scheduling urgent appointments. She says she has worked at this practice for 15 years without taking a single day off. “Even during the lunch break.”

First vaccination as a booster dose

The single mother of three talks about her experiences during the coronavirus pandemic. She began administering Covid vaccinations in 2021 together with a well-known pharmacist. “Granit Xhaka contacted us at the beginning of 2022 to get a Covid certificate.” The footballer reported that he had already been infected with Covid in early 2021. “Since he already had antibodies, the first vaccination was planned as a booster dose,” the doctor explained. Only one vaccination was sufficient. She then issued him the certificate. According to Andrea L., only one vaccination was needed for the certificate—and it was in fact administered.

“I was not skeptical about the vaccine”

In the interview, she emphasizes her expertise related to Covid: “My recovery and survival rate for Covid patients was 100 percent. I worked throughout the pandemic. Many practices were closed at the time.” The doctor stresses that her practice was regularly inspected and approved by the cantonal physician and cantonal pharmacist during the Covid period.

She also distances herself from the anti-vaccine movement: “I was among the first people to get vaccinated in Lucerne. I treated Covid with great respect. I was not skeptical about vaccines,” she says. According to information obtained by Blick, police raided her practice in 2023 and seized evidence. This initially stemmed from a criminal complaint filed by a health insurance company, alleging that the doctor had sold patients more medication than allowed. During the search, police discovered various COVID-19 files. One of them bore Granit Xhaka’s name.