Sunderland and Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka received a suspended monetary penalty of 150,000 Swiss francs with a two-year probation period after admitting he obtained a fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination certificate in 2022.
The Lucerne Public Prosecutor’s Office issued a summary penalty order, while no sporting suspension has been announced, meaning the legal penalty itself does not prevent Xhaka from returning to football, although his Switzerland future remains under discussion.
He had missed four Nations League fixtures while cooperating with the investigation.
What Punishment Did Granit Xhaka Receive?
Under the Swiss summary penalty order, Xhaka was sentenced to 50 daily fines of 3,000 francs each, totalling CHF 150,000 (£136,000/$180,000).
The penalty is suspended and will only be enforced if he commits another offence during the two-year probation period. He has already paid the procedural costs of the case.
In an Instagram statement posted on 8 October, Xhaka confirmed the outcome and accepted responsibility.
“I have been convicted by a summary penalty order for obtaining a false certification, receiving a suspended monetary penalty of 50 daily rates of CHF 3,000, with a two-year probation period,” he wrote.
“That means the penalty will not be enforced as long as I do not commit any further offences during this period. I have already paid the procedural costs. I accept the decision and take responsibility.”
What Has Granit Xhaka Said About the Case?
Xhaka first addressed the matter publicly on 21 September, when he posted an apology on Instagram after media reports emerged about the investigation.
He described his actions as a “mistake” made amid “deep mistrust” of the vaccine and said he would cooperate fully with authorities.
“Over the last few days, there has been a great deal of media coverage regarding a matter from my past. I would like to comment on this personally,” Xhaka wrote.
“At the time, I was personally very unsettled and had serious reservations about the Covid-19 vaccination.
“I felt a deep mistrust of the vaccine and was overcome by fears and uncertainty. In this state of emotional turmoil, I obtained a vaccination certificate instead of seeking answers to my unresolved questions through the proper channels. ”
“Today, I can clearly see that this was not the right course of action. It was a mistake. I am sorry.”
Following his admission, the Swiss Football Association (SFV) confirmed that Xhaka would not join the national team for the September-October international window.
SFV president Peter Knäbel said the decision was made jointly with the player and that his situation would be reassessed after the September window.
“We welcome Granit taking this step and facing the consequences. At the same time, we jointly concluded that it is in the team’s best interest to complete this training camp without him,” Knabel said.
What Happens Next for Granit Xhaka With Sunderland and Switzerland?
Xhaka remains available for Sunderland, where he serves as captain in the Premier League. No official club statement has been released regarding an internal review, but Xhaka is expected to return to Sunderland duty, while his international future remains subject to further discussions.
Xhaka, who turned 34 in September, is Switzerland’s record men’s appearance holder with 152 caps and remains a key figure for the national team.
The penalty order brings the legal proceedings against Xhaka to a conclusion, although the wider investigation into the doctor involved in the case continues.
The wider investigation involves a local doctor who prosecutors have linked to multiple certificates, although the prosecutor’s office has not disclosed further details.
