Suspended fine for Xhaka over Covid-19 certificate

Swiss footballer Granit Xhaka, currently playing for Sunderland, has been issued a suspended fine of £136,000 for obtaining a counterfeit Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022. The 34-year-old Swiss international, who was a captain for his country, claims the fine will be suspended for two years as long as he refrains from any additional violations, and he has already settled the court fees.

Xhaka expressed his acceptance of the decision and the support he received, stating that he remains committed to his actions. The midfielder, who had previously expressed doubts about the vaccine due to his mistrust, withdrew from the Swiss national team's participation in the Nations League matches against Scotland, North Macedonia, and Slovenia.

Xhaka's decision to skip the matches reflects the restrictive measures in Switzerland regarding access to activities, venues, and travel. As the World Cup approached, he captained Switzerland to a quarter-final exit against eventual champions Argentina. Following his initial statement, Xhaka withdrew from the national team. Sunderland's manager, Regis le Bris, expressed his confidence in Xhaka's fitness and positive attitude, indicating he is in good shape for the upcoming match against Brighton.