The Switzerland international confirmed the punishment in a statement on social media on Thursday, 8 October 2026, saying he accepted the decision and took responsibility for his actions.
The penalty comprises 50 daily fines of 3,000 Swiss francs each. However, it will not be enforced provided Xhaka commits no further offences during a two-year probation period. He confirmed that he had already paid the associated court costs.
Xhaka accepts responsibility for offence
In his statement, Xhaka said he stood by his earlier commitment to take responsibility for his decision.
The midfielder had previously acknowledged obtaining the false certificate while experiencing serious concerns and distrust about COVID-19 vaccination.
He explained that, rather than addressing his concerns through the appropriate channels, he obtained a vaccination certificate instead.
Xhaka subsequently described the decision as a mistake, apologised and confirmed that he had cooperated fully with the relevant authorities.
Investigation affected Switzerland duty
The case also affected Xhaka’s involvement with the Swiss national team during the recent international window.
Following his admission, he was left out of Switzerland’s squad and missed four UEFA Nations League fixtures: two against North Macedonia, one against Scotland and one against Slovenia.
Swiss Football Association president Peter Knäbel had previously said the decision to leave the midfielder out of the squad was reached jointly with the player while the matter was being addressed.
The association indicated that his situation would be reassessed after the international window.
Sunderland captain looks ahead after ruling
Xhaka remains an influential figure for Sunderland, having brought extensive experience from his previous spells with Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen before joining the English club.
The midfielder has also established himself as a key figure for Switzerland, becoming the country's record men's international appearance holder.
With the legal decision now announced, attention will turn to his return to club football and the next steps in his international career.
The suspended nature of the penalty means the fine will remain unenforced as long as Xhaka complies with the conditions of his two-year probation period.