Swiss captain Xhaka gets suspended fine for fake Covid certificate

Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka has been fined 150,000 Swiss francs ($180,000) after admitting he used a forged Covid vaccine certificate during the pandemic while playing for Arsenal. The 34-year-old Sunderland skipper will not have to pay the fine provided he commits no further offences during a two-year probationary period. 'I was sentenced by summary judgment for obtaining a false certification to a suspended fine of 50 daily rates of 3,000 Swiss francs each with a two-year probationary period,' he wrote in German on Instagram. 'I accept the decision and take responsibility for my actions. Thank you for the many messages of support over the past few weeks. They mean a lot to me.' Xhaka was playing for Arsenal at the time in 2022 before moving to Bayer Leverkusen the following year and joining Sunderland in 2025. Switzerland's most-capped player with 152 appearances, Xhaka withdrew from their Nations League matches against Scotland, North Macedonia and Slovenia in the recent international break. On Monday, Xhaka admitted that he had presented a forged certificate to avoid mandatory vaccination during the Covid crisis. 'At the time, I was very worried about the issue of Covid-19 vaccination… I felt deep mistrust regarding the vaccine and was gripped by anxiety and doubt,' he said on Instagram. 'Today I clearly see that I made the wrong choice. It was a mistake. I am sorry,' he wrote, adding that he was 'cooperating fully with the relevant authorities'. Switzerland are subsequently set to face Slovenia on November 13 and Scotland on November 16, also as part of the Nations League.