Xhaka Handed Suspended Fine Over Covid Vaccine Certificate

Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka has announced the outcome of the investigation into his Covid-19 vaccine certificate, revealing he has been given a suspended fine.

The Sunderland Echo reports that Xhaka has "announced the outcome" of the probe in a personal statement, confirming he has been "handed a suspended fine" (Sunderland Echo). Chronicle Live similarly confirms the midfielder "announced Covid investigation outcome" after being "placed under investigation over his COVID-19 vaccine certificate" (Chronicle Live).

BBC Sport provides the clearest detail on the punishment itself, reporting that the Sunderland captain says he received a suspended fine of 150,000 Swiss francs, which it converts to roughly £136,000, for "obtaining a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate" (BBC Sport). This gives the fullest picture of both the figure involved and the nature of the offence, which the Echo and Chronicle Live reference but do not quantify in their headlines and snippets.

All three outlets covering the investigation agree on the key facts: Xhaka was under scrutiny over a Covid vaccine certificate, he has now gone public with the result himself, and the punishment amounts to a suspended fine rather than an immediate sanction. There is no suggestion in any of the reports of a playing ban or other disciplinary action from Sunderland or the Premier League.

Separately, the Sunderland Echo also touched on Xhaka's importance to the side ahead of the Premier League return, noting the club "kept hold" of him over the summer "amid fierce interest from Chelsea" (Sunderland Echo). While not part of the Covid certificate story, it underlines just how central the Swiss international remains to Sunderland's plans both on and off the pitch as this episode is put behind him.

Written with the help of AI, using the headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.