Granit Xhaka fined over fake Covid-19 certificate

Swiss footballer Granit Xhaka, captain of Sunderland and the Swiss national team, has been fined 150,000 Swiss francs for possessing a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate. The 34-year-old obtained the certificate in 2022 when Switzerland mandated it for specific forms of international travel. Xhaka maintains that he has paid the court costs and that the fine is currently suspended for two years, provided he does not commit additional offences.

He expressed responsibility for his actions in a recent Instagram post, stating that he still stands by his decision. Xhaka had previously expressed mistrust in the vaccine and cited worries and uncertainty as reasons for his actions. Following the incident, he withdrew from the Swiss national team's camp for their upcoming Nations League fixtures against Scotland, North Macedonia, and Slovenia.

Switzerland's public health office clarified that there was no mandatory legal requirement for possessing a Covid certificate, as the document was only necessary for certain venues, activities, and travel. The restrictions on the certificates were lifted in spring 2022, although they continued to be issued, primarily to assist individuals in meeting entry requirements for international travel.

Xhaka was in charge of Switzerland during their World Cup campaign, where the team reached the quarter-finals before losing to eventual champions Argentina.