Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka has accepted a suspended fine of 150,000 Swiss francs for obtaining a fake COVID-19 vaccination certificate. The Lucerne Public Prosecutor's Office issued a penalty order of 50 daily fines of 3,000 francs each, suspended for a two-year probation period.
Xhaka stated he obtained the false certificate in 2022 due to "deep mistrust" of the vaccines. "I accept the decision and take responsibility," the 34-year-old said. The Swiss Football Association (SFV) had already agreed with Xhaka that he would miss the last four UEFA Nations League matches against North Macedonia, Scotland, and Slovenia. That period is now over, but the record cap holder will again be unavailable for the next match away to Slovenia on 13 November.
The SFV said it would hold further discussions with Xhaka once legal proceedings are concluded. On the pitch, the national team excelled in his absence, winning all four matches to continue a strong run of form with four consecutive victories. The latest results and the full schedule of fixtures are available online.
Xhaka, now playing for English club Sunderland, noted he had already paid court costs. His club Sunderland stated the events occurred before his arrival. The next task for Switzerland is the away fixture in Slovenia, for which the squad can be tracked on our squad page.
Further reading: aa.com.tr
