Swiss striker and captain return to pool after 150,000 franc fine

Swiss Football Association officials cleared captain Granit Xhaka and forward Breel Embolo to rejoin the national team for upcoming matches. The duo was removed from selection following a dispute over falsified health records from the pandemic era. They missed the first four Nations League fixtures in September and October.

The association issued a statement on Tuesday confirming that both players are now under consideration for the November games. The decision follows the conclusion of legal proceedings and the sporting penalty already served by the athletes. The SFV stated that the return is justified based on these completed steps.

Xhaka, 34, and Embolo, 29, each received a suspended fine of 150,000 Swiss francs. This amount is equivalent to approximately 181,225 US dollars. The fines carry a two-year probationary period. Xhaka plays for Sunderland, while Embolo is contracted with Atlanta United.

Pierluigi Tami, the national team director, called the November return a responsible course of action. He noted that the legal and sporting consequences had been fully addressed. Coach Murat Yakin agreed, stating he is pleased to have unrestricted selection options for the upcoming window.

The coaching staff and players' council voted unanimously to keep Xhaka as team captain. He holds the record for most appearances with 152 caps. His position was secured despite his temporary withdrawal from the squad in late September.

Switzerland currently leads Group B1 in the Nations League with four consecutive victories. The squad will travel to face Slovenia on November 13, followed by a home match against Scotland in St Gallen on November 16. Yakin plans to announce the final squad for these games on November 5.

The incident began when the Lucerne public prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into Xhaka in late September. He admitted to using a forged certificate to avoid mandatory vaccinations and stepped down. Embolo followed suit a few days later after acknowledging a penal order regarding similar documents. The SFV has since released guidelines for handling future cases involving criminal law.