Granit Xhaka, the Sunderland midfielder and former Arsenal player, has been fined £136,000 after being found guilty of purchasing a fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination certificate. The decision was made by the Lucerne Public Prosecutor’s Office in Switzerland, as reported by Sky Sports News.

Xhaka has been handed a suspended fine of 150,000 Swiss francs, which translates to approximately £136,000. This penalty consists of 50 daily fines of 3,000 Swiss francs each and comes with a two-year probation period. The fine will only be enforced if Xhaka commits another offence during this probation.

In a statement released on Thursday, Xhaka acknowledged the ruling and expressed his acceptance of the judgment. "A few weeks ago, I said that I take responsibility for my decision. I stand by that," he stated. He also confirmed that he had cooperated fully with the authorities, paid the legal costs, and provided a detailed statement to prosecutors.

The case dates back to 2022 when Xhaka was still with Arsenal. He admitted to acquiring a vaccination certificate without actually being vaccinated. In September, he expressed his uncertainty about the COVID-19 vaccine at the time and recognized that obtaining the certificate instead of seeking proper guidance was a grave mistake. He has since apologized and committed to cooperating with the ongoing investigations.

The inquiry into Xhaka's actions was initiated by Swiss prosecutors following allegations regarding the issuance of fraudulent COVID certificates during the pandemic. As a result of the investigation, Xhaka stepped back from the Switzerland national team while the matter was being looked into.

The Swiss Football Association has confirmed its awareness of the legal decision and indicated that it would engage in discussions with Xhaka regarding his future with the national team. Despite the legal troubles, Xhaka remains the captain of the Swiss national team and continues to play for Sunderland in the Premier League. Importantly, the suspended nature of his sentence means that he currently faces no football ban as a result of this criminal judgment.