Granit Xhaka has received a suspended fine of 150,000 Swiss francs, equivalent to approximately £136,265, after admitting to obtaining a fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination certificate while playing for Arsenal in 2022.
The 34-year-old Sunderland captain confirmed the outcome of the case on Thursday, October 8, 2026, saying he accepted the decision and took responsibility for his actions.
The financial penalty will not be enforced provided Xhaka commits no further offences during a two-year probationary period. He has already paid the legal costs associated with the proceedings.
Xhaka Accepts Responsibility for COVID-19 Certificate Case
Xhaka disclosed the punishment in a statement on social media following an investigation by prosecutors in Lucerne, Switzerland.
The ruling consists of 50 daily financial penalties of 3,000 Swiss francs each, amounting to 150,000 Swiss francs. Under the terms of the decision, the penalty remains suspended for two years.
The Switzerland international said he had accepted the prosecutor's decision and acknowledged responsibility for his conduct.
The case attracted attention after Xhaka admitted in September that he had obtained a fraudulent vaccination certificate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He previously explained that he had serious reservations about the vaccine and had been struggling with uncertainty at the time. However, he acknowledged that obtaining a false document was the wrong decision.
Xhaka apologised for his actions and said he was cooperating fully with the authorities.
What the Suspended Fine Means
Although reports have described the punishment as a £136,265 fine, Xhaka is not required to pay that amount immediately under the terms of the ruling.
The criminal financial penalty has been suspended for two years. If he commits no further offences during that period, the suspended fine will not be enforced.
However, the player has confirmed that he has already paid the legal and procedural costs associated with the case.
The distinction is important because the headline figure represents the full financial penalty imposed by the prosecutor, not an amount Xhaka has necessarily paid.
The decision followed an investigation into his acquisition of the fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
Incident Dates Back to Xhaka's Arsenal Days
The case concerns events in 2022, when Xhaka was playing for Arsenal in the English Premier League.
During the pandemic, COVID-19 vaccination certificates were used in Switzerland and other countries for certain activities, while vaccination or other documentation could also be relevant to international travel requirements.
Xhaka later acknowledged obtaining a false certificate rather than addressing his concerns about vaccination through the appropriate channels.
The matter became the subject of a criminal investigation by the Lucerne Public Prosecutor's Office. After providing information to investigators, the midfielder received the summary penalty order.
Xhaka's admission and subsequent acceptance of the decision brought the case to a significant stage, although the two-year probation period means the suspended penalty remains conditional on his conduct.
Switzerland Dropped Xhaka From Recent International Fixtures
The investigation also affected Xhaka's involvement with the Switzerland national team.
Following the emergence of the case, he withdrew from the squad for the recent international window while cooperating with prosecutors.
He consequently missed four Nations League matches: two against North Macedonia and one each against Scotland and Slovenia.
Swiss football officials supported the decision to allow the investigation to proceed and indicated that discussions about his international future would take place after the October fixtures.
Xhaka is Switzerland's record men's international appearance holder, with 152 caps. His experience and leadership have made him a prominent figure in the national team, which he captains.
No Football Ban Announced
The punishment concerns the criminal case surrounding the false vaccination certificate. The reported ruling does not impose a football suspension or prevent Xhaka from continuing his professional career.
The midfielder joined Sunderland in 2025 after spells at Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen.
At Leverkusen, he played a key role in the club's successful 2023–24 campaign, when the German side won the Bundesliga title and the German Cup.
His move to Sunderland brought him back to English football, where he has taken on the captaincy.
The conclusion of the investigation gives greater clarity about the legal proceedings, although his international future remains a matter for discussions with the Swiss Football Association.
Xhaka Says He Has Learned From the Mistake
Xhaka's public response has focused on accepting responsibility rather than challenging the decision.
His earlier apology acknowledged that he had made the wrong choice by obtaining a fraudulent certificate. He also explained that his decision had been influenced by fear, uncertainty and distrust surrounding COVID-19 vaccination at the time.
The case highlights the potential legal consequences of obtaining false health documentation, even when the original incident occurred several years earlier.
For Xhaka, the immediate outcome is a suspended financial penalty and a two-year probationary period, alongside legal costs he says he has already paid.
He remains free to continue playing for Sunderland while the football authorities consider the implications for his international involvement.
