Suspended fine for Xhaka over Covid-19 certificate

Sunderland and Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka has revealed that he has received a suspended fine of 150,000 Swiss francs, equivalent to approximately £136,000, for obtaining a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate. The legal penalty marks a significant development in a case that dates back to the height of pandemic-related restrictions.

The 34-year-old player is alleged to have obtained the forged document in 2022. During that period, vaccination certificates were frequently required in Switzerland and across various international destinations for travel abroad and access to specific public venues and activities.

According to Xhaka, the substantial financial penalty has been suspended for a two-year probationary period, provided he does not commit any further legal offenses. Furthermore, the experienced midfielder confirmed that he has already paid the associated court costs stemming from the summary judgment.

Taking to social media to address the situation publicly, Xhaka reiterated his commitment to accountability. Writing on Instagram in German, he explained that he was sentenced by summary judgment to a suspended fine comprising 50 daily rates of CHF 3,000 each. He explicitly stated that he accepts the legal decision and takes full responsibility for his past actions.

The veteran player also expressed gratitude for the backing he received, thanking supporters for the numerous messages sent to him over the preceding weeks, noting that they meant a great deal to him during a challenging time.

At the time the certificate was allegedly acquired in 2022, Xhaka was playing for Premier League club Arsenal. In a previous social media statement issued in September 2022, he openly admitted to having harbored a sense of mistrust toward the vaccine, explaining that he had been heavily influenced by personal worries and uncertainties regarding the inoculation process.

As Switzerland's record appearance holder with 152 caps, Xhaka's off-field situation has occasionally intersected with his international duties. Following the initial emergence of the investigation, he withdrew from his country's squad during a recent international break, missing matches against Scotland, North Macedonia, and Slovenia.

The Swiss office of public health previously clarified the context of these regulations, noting that while a general legal mandate to hold a certificate was never universally imposed, they remained essential for foreign travel and entry into various activities and venues until the spring of 2022, after which they primarily served international travel requirements.

Looking ahead, the midfielder's club career remains unaffected in the immediate term. Xhaka, who joined Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen in July 2025 and captained Switzerland at the World Cup earlier this year, is expected to return to the pitch when Sunderland host Brighton.

Sunderland manager Regis le Bris addressed the media regarding the situation, choosing to focus strictly on athletic performance. Le Bris stated that he had no comment on external topics but praised the player's application during training sessions throughout the international break, emphasizing that Xhaka is in a positive frame of mind regarding his football.