Granit Xhaka’s £136,000 fine is not the end of the story: Here’s what happens next
Granit Xhaka at Sunderland AFC v AZ Alkmaar – UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 – Getty Images Sport
Granit Xhaka now knows the legal consequence of the controversial decision he made during the Covid-19 pandemic. The bigger question for the Switzerland and Sunderland captain is what comes next for his international career.
The 34-year-old midfielder has accepted a suspended fine of 150,000 Swiss francs, worth about £136,000, after obtaining a false Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022.
The penalty was issued through a summary judgment, with the fine suspended for two years. Xhaka has also confirmed that he has paid the court costs and accepted responsibility for his actions.
The ruling closes the immediate legal chapter, but it comes after Xhaka already missed Switzerland’s recent international fixtures while the case was being investigated.
Why was Granit Xhaka fined?
The case dates back to 2022, when Xhaka was playing for Arsenal.
At the time, Switzerland had Covid certificate measures in place that affected access to certain activities, venues and travel. Although there was no blanket legal requirement for every person to possess a certificate, the documents were required for certain situations, including some international travel.
Xhaka later admitted obtaining a false certificate.
In September, he explained that he had developed serious reservations about Covid-19 vaccination and had been influenced by uncertainty and concerns surrounding the vaccine.
Rather than continuing to question the decision through official channels, he obtained the false document.
Xhaka has since accepted that decision and said he takes responsibility for it.
What exactly is Xhaka’s punishment?
Xhaka was sentenced to 50 daily rates of 3,000 Swiss francs, producing a total suspended fine of 150,000 Swiss francs.
The important word is suspended.
The punishment will not be enforced provided Xhaka does not commit another offence during the two-year probation period. He has already paid the court costs.
That means the latest judgment does not amount to Xhaka being sent to prison or receiving an immediate financial penalty of £136,000.
It does, however, leave him with a formal criminal judgment and a two-year period in which another offence could trigger the suspended punishment.
Is Granit Xhaka banned from football?
There is currently no football ban attached to the suspended fine.
Xhaka’s recent absence from Switzerland’s squad was connected to the fallout from the case and his cooperation with prosecutors, rather than a football suspension imposed as part of the court judgment.
He missed four recent Nations League matches while the matter was being investigated and gave a statement to prosecutors in Lucerne. Switzerland won all four matches during his absence.
His club situation is different.
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has indicated that Xhaka remains in good footballing shape, saying he trained well during the international break.
Xhaka is expected to be available when Sunderland host Brighton on Saturday.
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Will Xhaka return to the Switzerland team?
This is arguably the biggest unanswered question surrounding the case.
Xhaka remains Switzerland’s record men’s international appearance holder with 152 caps, and his importance to the national side extends beyond his role in midfield.
He captained Switzerland at the 2026 World Cup, where the team reached the quarter-finals before losing to eventual runners-up Argentina.
The Swiss Football Association has been aware of the case and previously indicated that discussions about Xhaka’s future could take place once the legal process reached a conclusion.
The conclusion of the legal case could now allow those discussions to move forward.
That does not automatically guarantee his return as captain or even his immediate selection. Those decisions will be made by the Swiss football authorities and coaching staff.
Xhaka has already taken responsibility
Rather than challenge the punishment publicly, Xhaka has accepted the judgment.
“I accept the decision and take responsibility for my actions,” he said in a statement announcing the outcome.
That response is significant because the midfielder had already acknowledged that his decision was wrong.
His latest statement also confirms that he has cooperated with prosecutors and settled the court costs.
The legal process has now produced a defined outcome, leaving the focus on whether the incident will have any lasting effect on his career with Switzerland.
What does the ruling mean for Sunderland?
For Sunderland, the immediate concern is football rather than the Swiss legal case.
Xhaka joined Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen in July 2025 after previously spending seven years at Arsenal before moving to Germany.
He remains a senior figure in Sunderland’s squad and was named club captain.
Le Bris has avoided getting drawn into the details of the case, instead focusing on Xhaka’s condition on the training ground.
That could allow Sunderland to treat the matter separately from the midfielder’s international situation.
Unless another football-related sanction emerges, the suspended judgment does not prevent Xhaka from continuing his club career.
Why the Xhaka case is attracting attention
The case is unusual because the underlying incident occurred more than four years before the final legal outcome.
Xhaka was still an Arsenal player when he obtained the certificate. He has since changed clubs, returned to the Premier League with Sunderland and led Switzerland at a World Cup.
The timing means the controversy has followed him into a very different stage of his career.
The latest ruling, however, provides some clarity. Xhaka knows the legal penalty, has accepted it and has a two-year probation period.
The question now shifts from what punishment will Xhaka receive? to how much will the episode affect his reputation and future with Switzerland?
Frequently asked questions
Why was Granit Xhaka fined?
Xhaka was fined after admitting that he obtained a false Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022.
How much was Granit Xhaka fined?
His suspended fine totals 150,000 Swiss francs, approximately £136,000. It consists of 50 daily fines of 3,000 Swiss francs.
Will Granit Xhaka have to pay the £136,000 fine?
The fine is suspended for two years. It will not be enforced provided he commits no further offences during the probation period.
Has Granit Xhaka been banned from football?
The court judgment does not impose a football ban on Xhaka. His recent absence from Switzerland’s squad occurred amid the investigation and fallout from the case.
Can Granit Xhaka play for Sunderland?
Yes. The suspended court penalty does not prevent him from playing for Sunderland. He is expected to be available for the club’s match against Brighton.
Will Granit Xhaka return to the Switzerland national team?
His international future has not been definitively settled. The Swiss Football Association is expected to discuss the matter following the conclusion of the legal case.
How many times has Granit Xhaka played for Switzerland?
Xhaka has made a record 152 men’s appearances for Switzerland.
How old is Granit Xhaka?
Xhaka is 34 years old.
What happened to Granit Xhaka during the 2026 international break?
He missed Switzerland’s four recent Nations League matches while the matter involving the false Covid certificate was being investigated and while he cooperated with prosecutors.