Switzerland's football captain Granit Xhaka has admitted procuring a fake Covid vaccination certificate and will miss the next four Nations League matches
In a statement on Instagram, the 33-year-old said he had been "gripped by fear and uncertainty" about the vaccine at the time, and calls his choice "a mistake" he now regrets.
The Swiss Football Association says the decision to leave him out of this week's training camp in Belek, Turkey, was taken by mutual agreement.
The Lucerne prosecutor's office has opened a criminal investigation.
Switzerland face away matches against North Macedonia and Scotland, then Slovenia and North Macedonia in Lucerne on 3 and 6 October — after which the association will reassess his international future.
The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross says Switzerland and the Geneva-based humanitarian body should keep their neutralities distinct