Suspended fine for Xhaka over Covid-19 certificate

Swiss footballer Granit Xhaka, Sunderland's captain and a former player for Arsenal, has received a suspended fine of £136,000 for using a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022. The 34-year-old Swiss international, who has made 152 appearances for his country, claims he stands by his decision and accepts the court's decision.

The fine is suspended for two years, provided he does not commit any further offenses and has already paid the court costs. Xhaka's statement, written in German on Instagram, expresses his responsibility for his actions and gratitude for the support he received from fans. Despite his initial decision, Xhaka withdrew from Switzerland's national team for their recent Nations League matches.

The country had implemented a requirement for Covid-19 certificates for specific travel and activities until the spring of 2022, after which these measures were relaxed. Xhaka, who captained Switzerland at the World Cup this year, is set to return to action for Sunderland when they face Brighton on Saturday. Sunderland's manager, Regis le Bris, stated that Xhaka has trained well during the international break, expressing confidence in his football performance.