Granit Xhaka fined over forged Covid vaccination certificate

Granit Xhaka has been fined for forging a Covid vaccination certificate during the pandemic. The Switzerland captain faces a penalty of 150,000 francs, equivalent to 160,000 euros, but will have to pay only if he commits another offence.

The midfielder said on Instagram that the Lucerne public prosecutor’s office had suspended the penalty. The conditional decision means he will avoid paying the fine if there is no repeat offence.

“I accept the decision and take responsibility,” Xhaka said. The controversy kept him out of the national team for the four Nations League matches played recently. The Nati won all four.

Xhaka also acknowledged that he had felt “deep distrust of the vaccine” against Covid at the time. He currently plays for Sunderland, having been a key player for Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen in previous seasons.