Granit Xhaka has been handed a suspended fine of 150,000 Swiss francs (£136,000) after admitting to obtaining a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022. The 34-year-old Sunderland and Switzerland captain said the fine is suspended for two years, provided he commits no further offences. He has already paid court costs.
Xhaka addressed the situation in a German-language Instagram post, writing: “A few weeks ago, I spoke personally here and said that I would take responsibility for my decision. I stand by that.” He confirmed the court sentenced him by summary judgment to a suspended fine of 50 daily rates of CHF 3,000 (£2,726) each. “I accept the decision and take responsibility for my actions,” he added. “Thank you for the many messages of support over the past few weeks. They mean a lot to me.”
The forged certificate was alleged to have been obtained when Switzerland required proof of vaccination for travel abroad. While the Swiss office of public health confirmed there was never a general legal obligation to hold such a certificate, it was necessary for access to various venues, activities, and international travel. These measures ended in spring 2022. Afterward, certificates continued to be issued primarily to meet foreign entry requirements.
Xhaka, Switzerland’s record appearance holder with 152 caps, first spoke publicly about his vaccine stance on 21 September 2022. At that time, he said he had a “mistrust” toward the vaccine, influenced by “worries and uncertainty.” Following his statement, he withdrew from Switzerland’s squad for Nations League matches against Scotland, North Macedonia, and Slovenia during the international break that recently ended.
In 2022, Xhaka was playing for Arsenal before transferring to Sunderland. Earlier this year, he captained Switzerland at the World Cup, where the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual runners-up Argentina.
Sunderland manager Regis le Bris declined to comment on the fine. Instead, he said: “No comment on external topics but [from] what I’ve seen during the international break, he has trained really well. It’s positive. He’s in a good place football-wise and for me that is the most important.” Xhaka is expected to return to Sunderland’s starting lineup when they host Brighton on Saturday at 15:00 BST.
The case adds to a string of controversies involving footballers and Covid-19 regulations. Xhaka’s suspended fine reflects the legal consequences faced by public figures who circumvented pandemic rules. The suspended status means the fine will only be enforced if he commits another offence within two years.
According to Joy Online.
