Granit Xhaka gets suspended fine over forged Covid certificate, but no sporting ban

Updated 11:30 WAT, 15 October 2026: Xhaka played in Sunderland’s 2-0 home defeat by 10-man Brighton on Saturday, 10 October; no football authority has taken action, and the Swiss FA is expected to decide on his international future later this month.

The Granit Xhaka fine is now official, and it is far lighter than many people feared. The Sunderland captain and Switzerland’s most-capped player has been convicted of obtaining a false certification after he got a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022, back when he was an Arsenal player. However, the penalty is suspended. He will not have to pay it unless he commits another offence within two years.

Xhaka broke the news himself on Thursday, 8 October, in a social media post. In short, the footballer who fell out of the Swiss squad last month has now closed the legal chapter. The football fallout, though, is still being sorted out.

What the Swiss prosecutors decided

The Lucerne public prosecutor’s office handled the case through a summary penalty order. That is a fast-track ruling issued without a full court trial. Under it, Xhaka received a fine of 50 daily rates of 3,000 Swiss francs each. That adds up to 150,000 Swiss francs, or roughly £136,000, depending on the exchange rate used.

Crucially, the money stays unpaid as long as he keeps his record clean during a two-year probation period. He has, however, already paid the procedural costs. In theory, an offence of this kind could have led to a prison sentence, so the outcome is a significant relief for the player.

“I accept the decision and take responsibility for my actions,” Xhaka said in his statement, adding that he was grateful for the many messages of support he has received in recent weeks.

How the Granit Xhaka case unfolded

The story has moved quickly. First, the background. Police raided the practice of a Lucerne doctor in 2023 over suspicions that vaccination certificates were being issued without any jabs being given. Swiss outlet Blick reported that Xhaka was among numerous alleged clients.

Then, on Friday, 18 September, Swiss media reported that Xhaka was under criminal investigation. Prosecutors confirmed they were examining possible procurement of a false certification by deception and the forgery of documents. At that stage, his spokesman pointed to confirmation from the treating doctor that he had been vaccinated in January and November 2022. Blick also spotted a discrepancy between the date given by the spokesman and the date on the certificate itself.

The doctor’s lawyer insisted the vaccinations took place, and the doctor has denied wrongdoing. As a result, the question hung in the air for only a short time. On Monday, 21 September, Xhaka ended the debate by admitting publicly that he had acquired a forged certificate.

Why Xhaka says he did it

In his admission, the midfielder said he had felt deep mistrust of the vaccine at the time and was gripped by anxiety and doubt. Instead of getting his questions answered through the proper channels, he took a shortcut and acquired a certificate. “It was a mistake. I am sorry,” he wrote.

He also said he was cooperating fully with the authorities. He gave a full statement to the prosecutor’s office before the decision was made.

The price Switzerland paid on the pitch

The scandal cost Xhaka his place in the national team. Switzerland’s football association (SFV) and the player agreed that he would skip the squad’s training camp in Belek, Turkey. SFV president Peter Knäbel welcomed Xhaka’s decision to take responsibility, although he said the move was in the best interest of the team.

As a result, Xhaka missed the first four matches of Switzerland’s 2026-27 Nations League campaign. In addition, striker Breel Embolo was left out of the squad. Embolo had received a penalty order in November 2025 over forged Covid test certificates, and he admitted the matter to Swiss media when it surfaced.

Meanwhile, the wider picture is uncomfortable for Swiss sport. Former Switzerland ice hockey coach Patrick Fischer revealed earlier this year that he had travelled to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing with a fake vaccination certificate. Knäbel has said the federation will deal with the issue and set guidelines once the four Nations League matches are done.

Sunderland back their captain

At club level, the mood is calm. Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris said he had no comment on matters outside football. However, he noted that Xhaka trained really well during the international break and is in a good place on the pitch. As far as the manager is concerned, the situation is over.

Xhaka played in Sunderland’s first match since the decision, a 2-0 home defeat by 10-man Brighton on Saturday, 10 October, Sky Sports and PA reported.

The online reaction

As expected, social media has had plenty to say. Rival fans have joked about the saga, and some of the banter has been aimed at his old club Arsenal. Others are asking a more serious question. Is a suspended fine too light for a forged document, especially when ordinary people could face tougher penalties? On the other side, some argue that his quick admission, his apology and his cooperation with prosecutors all deserve credit.

Granit Xhaka case at a glance

• Offence: obtaining a false certification, linked to a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022.
• Penalty: suspended fine of 50 daily rates of 3,000 Swiss francs (about £136,000).
• Probation: two years, with the fine waived if he does not reoffend.
• Sporting ban: none so far.
• International duty: missed four Nations League matches while the case was live.

What happens next for Xhaka

The legal side is closed, but the football side is not. The Swiss FA is still reviewing the situation and is expected to give its position in the second half of October, and no sporting ban has been imposed. Xhaka is Switzerland’s record appearance-maker, so the federation has a lot to weigh. National team coach Murat Yakin has said Xhaka is still Switzerland’s captain, the Swiss newspaper Bote der Urschweiz reported on 7 October.

For now, the Granit Xhaka fine marks the end of a stressful few weeks. He has admitted his mistake, accepted his punishment and kept his career intact. Whether the Swiss public and the dressing room move on as easily is the next question, and GistMatrix will keep following it.

Sources: reports from Reuters, AFP, the Northern Echo, Blick, blue News and OneFootball. Read the Northern Echo report on Sunderland’s reaction for more.