Granit Xhaka gets suspended 150,000-franc penalty over forged Covid certificate

The penalty

Granit Xhaka, the 34-year-old Sunderland midfielder and Switzerland captain, was sentenced in a summary penalty order issued by the prosecutor's office in Lucerne. The sentence is 50 day-fines of 3,000 Swiss francs each, 150,000 francs in total, suspended for a two-year probation period. He waived his right to appeal and has already paid the court costs, so the penalty will not be enforced unless he commits a new offence during probation. He announced the ruling on Instagram, writing:

I accept the decision and take responsibility. The sentence will not be enforced if I do not commit any offences during the probation period. I have already paid the court costs.

According to Super Express, the ruling means Xhaka is not suspended and can continue his career normally.

How the case emerged

The affair broke on 18 September, when Blick reported an investigation against Xhaka, who has 152 caps for his country. Three days later he admitted buying a forged EU Covid certificate, known as UCC, in 2022. Sportowefakty notes that the UCC eased entry into EU and Schengen countries without quarantine or extra tests during 2021 and 2022. The case arose from suspicions that a doctor in Lucerne issued vaccination certificates without ever administering the vaccines, and the doctor rejected the accusations. Xhaka wrote on Instagram in September:

It was a mistake. I am sorry.

In his statement he said that during the pandemic he was troubled by fears, doubts and distrust of the vaccine, which led him to use two false certificates.

Impact on Switzerland

Under an agreement with the Swiss Football Association, Xhaka did not play in the recent Nations League matches while the investigation was ongoing. Breel Embolo could not play in similar circumstances during the last international break. Switzerland played without its captain against Scotland, North Macedonia and Slovenia, and won all four of its group B1 matches in late September and early October, practically securing a return to League A. Opinions differ within the federation. Coach Murat Yakin openly said he wants the midfielder back in the squad immediately, while federation head Peter Knabel is more cautious and says all options remain open on the disciplinary future of the captain. Sportowefakty reports, citing rts.ch, that the sporting consequences are still unclear even though the criminal case is closed.

What comes next

Mediafax reports that Xhaka is expected to rejoin the Switzerland squad in November and resume the captaincy. Sunderland coach Regis Le Bris said he does not comment on matters off the pitch. He added that Xhaka trained very well during the international break, is in good form, and that as far as he knows the situation is over. In his statement Xhaka also said:

Some weeks ago I declared that I take responsibility for my decision. I maintain this position.

Sunderland's next Premier League match is against Brighton on Saturday.