Granit Xhaka handed suspended fine over Covid-19 certificate

Sunderland midfielder and Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka says he has been given a suspended penalty of 150,000 Swiss francs (£136,000) after acquiring a fraudulent Covid-19 vaccination certificate.

The 34-year-old allegedly obtained the document in 2022, when it was required in Switzerland for certain international journeys. He said the punishment would remain suspended for two years as long as he commits no further offences, adding that he has already covered the legal costs.

Writing in German on Instagram, the midfielder said he had previously addressed the matter personally and promised to accept responsibility for his decision, a position he continues to uphold.

He explained that a summary judgment found him guilty of obtaining a false certificate and imposed a suspended penalty consisting of 50 daily payments of CHF 3,000 (£2,726).

Xhaka said he accepted the ruling and took responsibility for what he had done. He also expressed appreciation for the numerous supportive messages he had received in recent weeks.

Xhaka was an Arsenal player in 2022. In a social media statement published on 21 September, he said he had been wary of the vaccine and had allowed concerns and uncertainty to influence him.

With 152 international appearances, he holds Switzerland’s all-time caps record. After releasing his initial statement, he left the national squad ahead of Nations League fixtures against Scotland, North Macedonia and Slovenia during the recently completed international break.

Switzerland’s public health authority confirmed that possessing such a certificate was never a universal legal obligation. However, it was necessary to enter certain venues, take part in various activities and travel, limiting access for people without one.

The restrictions remained effective in Switzerland until spring 2022. Covid-19 certificates were still issued afterward, mainly to help travellers satisfy entry rules in other countries.

Xhaka led Switzerland as captain at the World Cup earlier this year, with the team eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual finalists Argentina.

He is likely to be available again when Sunderland welcome Brighton on Saturday at 15:00 BST.

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris declined to discuss matters away from football but said Xhaka had trained very well during the international break. He added that the midfielder was in a positive place from a sporting perspective, which was his main concern.