Granit Xhaka sentenced to a suspended term for fake Covid certificates
In the hallway of a Lucerne court, the captain of the Nati, Granit Xhaka, was sentenced last night for presenting false Covid certificates, a decision relayed by and confirmed by AFP. He received a suspended sentence of fifty days, together with a fine of three thousand francs and a two‑year probation.
Player's statement on Instagram
On his Instagram account, Xhaka wrote: “I was sentenced by a penal order for obtaining a false Covid test certificate – a suspended sentence of 50 days, a fine of 3,000 francs, and a two‑year probation.” He added that he accepts the decision, takes responsibility and has already paid the legal costs.
Sporting consequences
Because of the proceedings, Xhaka and the Swiss Football Association (ASF) agreed that the captain will not take part in the final squad gathering for the Nations League matches. His teammate Breel Embolo was also excluded from the Nati for the same period.
The player, currently at Sunderland after spells at Basel, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen, had explained that he was “gripped by anxiety and doubt” during the pandemic and was wary of the vaccine, which led him to forge two vaccination certificates.
The total financial penalty amounts to 150,000 Swiss francs, roughly 160,000 euros. Switzerland, for its part, tops Group 1 of League B.