Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka has been issued a suspended fine of £136,000 following a ruling regarding his purchase of a fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination certificate in 2022.
The disciplinary action addresses the Swiss international’s involvement in obtaining a fake document during the height of the global pandemic. The fine is suspended, meaning it will not be immediately payable unless specific conditions are breached in the future.
The incident occurred in 2022, a period when strict health protocols and vaccination requirements were widely enforced across European football leagues. The use of forged health documents has been a subject of significant scrutiny within the sport during that time.
Xhaka currently plays for Sunderland in the English football league system. The ruling highlights the ongoing efforts by football authorities to maintain integrity in player health documentation and compliance with public health mandates.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>