Granit Xhaka Fined, Given Suspended Sentence for Forging COVID Vaccine Certificate
SingTao · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
Swiss international midfielder Granit Xhaka has been handed a suspended sentence and fine after admitting to obtaining a fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination certificate during the pandemic. The 34-year-old player, currently with English club Sunderland, received the sentence from Swiss prosecutors who issued a summary penalty order. Xhaka has accepted responsibility and expressed remorse for his actions, which he attributed to anxiety about vaccine side effects.
Key Points
- Granit Xhaka was sentenced to a fine of 136,266.75 pounds (approximately 1.4 million HKD) with a two-year suspended sentence
- The penalty was calculated at 3,000 Swiss francs per day for 50 days, suspended on condition of no further offences
- Xhaka obtained the fake certificate in 2022 through a Swiss doctor while still playing for Arsenal
- Police searched the doctor's clinic in 2023, discovering evidence of falsified vaccination certificates for multiple patients
- Xhaka briefly withdrew from Switzerland's UEFA Nations League squad due to the controversy but is expected to return as captain in November
Why It Matters
This case highlights how professional athletes face legal consequences for pandemic-era decisions that may have seemed expedient at the time. Xhaka's public acknowledgment of error and acceptance of responsibility demonstrates the importance of accountability, even for high-profile sports figures whose actions are scrutinized by millions of fans worldwide .
This case highlights how professional athletes face legal consequences for pandemic-era decisions that may have seemed expedient at the time. Xhaka's public acknowledgment of error and acceptance of responsibility demonstrates the importance of accountability, even for high-profile sports figures whose actions are scrutinized by millions of fans worldwide .