Suspended fine for Xhaka over fake Covid-19 vaccination certificate
Outlets agree Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka received a suspended fine over a fake Covid-19 vaccination certificate, though reports differ on the exact fine amount and currency conversion.
What happened
Sunderland and Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka has received a suspended fine of 150,000 Swiss francs, reported variously as £136,000 or $180,000, over a fraudulent Covid-19 vaccination certificate.123457
The certificate was obtained in 2022 while Xhaka was playing for Arsenal, according to some reports.145
Xhaka confirmed receiving the suspended fine for obtaining the forged document, according to his own statement reported by multiple outlets.247
What's agreed
Reported consistently by outlets in more than one region.
- Granit Xhaka, captain of Sunderland and Switzerland, received a suspended fine of 150,000 Swiss francs (reported as £136,000) over a fake Covid-19 vaccination certificate.12457
- Xhaka obtained the fraudulent or forged certificate in 2022, during his time at Arsenal.145
- Xhaka himself acknowledged receiving the suspended fine for obtaining the forged certificate.247
Where accounts differ
Each account is attributed to who makes it. We do not judge between them.
Exact amount of the fine in local currency
Nature of Xhaka's acknowledgment
How it's framed
What each perspective puts first, based on headlines and summaries.
| Perspective | How it reads | What it puts first |
|---|---|---|
| UK and Ghanaian outletsEurope | BBC Sport and MyJoyOnline frame the story around Xhaka's own statement acknowledging the suspended fine, using near-identical language, with MyJoyOnline appearing to syndicate the BBC account.27 | player's own statement, suspended fine, forged certificate |
| Nigerian private pressAfrica | Vanguard and Punch emphasize the scale of the fine and frame it as a fact of the sentence handed down, using terms like 'fraudulent' and 'fake' certificate.15 | fine amount, suspended sentence, fraudulent certificate |
| Turkish state-controlled outletMiddle East & Turkey | Anadolu Agency frames the story around Xhaka accepting a penalty after admitting guilt, including a probation period not mentioned by other outlets, and converts the fine to US dollars.3 | admission of guilt, probation period, penalty acceptance |
| Southeast Asian outletsSoutheast Asia | Malay Mail and CNA (state-controlled) report the fine with minimal elaboration, with Malay Mail noting the Arsenal connection and local currency conversion.46 | forged certificate, Arsenal link, fine amount |
What the coverage leaves out
- None of the outlets reviewed reported the identity or method of the certificate seller, or further legal proceedings against other parties.
- None of the outlets reviewed detailed the specific Swiss legal process or court that issued the suspended sentence.
- None of the outlets reviewed reported reaction from Sunderland, Arsenal, or football governing bodies.
- None of the outlets reviewed clarified the exact exchange rate or date used for the currency conversions, which may explain the differing reported amounts.
Why it matters
Sources (7)
Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.
Europe
- 2BBC SportGBPublic broadcaster
Middle East & Turkey
- 3Anadolu AgencyTRState-controlled
Switzerland captain Xhaka handed suspended $180,000 fine over fake COVID-19 certificate
Africa
- 1VanguardNGPrivate
Xhaka fined £136,000, handed two-year suspended sentence over fake Covid certificate
- 5PunchNGPrivate
JUST IN: Granit Xhaka fined £136,000 over fake COVID certificate — Report
- 7MyJoyOnlineGHPrivate