Lucerne:Switzerland national football team captain Granit Xhaka has been given a suspended fine of 150,000 Swiss francs ($180,000) after admitting to possessing a fake coronavirus vaccination certificate during the pandemic.
According to Anadolu Agency, the 34-year-old, who also plays for Sunderland, stated the fine would remain suspended provided he commits no further offenses over the next two years, with the penalty structured as 50 daily fines of 3,000 francs.
Xhaka, who shared his acceptance of the decision and responsibility via Instagram, revealed last month that he obtained the false certificate in 2022 due to his skepticism about COVID-19 vaccines, calling it a mistake.
The incident was investigated by prosecutors in Lucerne, Switzerland, where Xhaka gave a statement. As a result, Xhaka, the most-capped male footballer for Switzerland with 152 appearances, missed four recent UEFA Nations League matches after agreeing with the Swiss Football Association to sit out the international window.
The Swiss Football Association plans to hold further discussions with Xhaka following the completion of the legal proceedings.