Sunderland and Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka has been given a suspended fine of 150,000 Swiss francs (about £136,000) for obtaining a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022.
The 34-year-old announced the ruling himself on Instagram on Thursday, saying he accepted the decision and took responsibility for his actions.
What the ruling says
The penalty, a summary order from the Lucerne public prosecutor's office according to Swiss broadcaster RTS, is 50 daily rates of CHF 3,000 each. It is suspended for a two-year probationary period, so Xhaka will only have to pay if he commits another offence in that time. He said he had given prosecutors a full statement and had already paid the costs of the proceedings.
"A few weeks ago, I spoke personally here and said that I would take responsibility for my decision. I stand by that," Xhaka wrote in German, in a translation published by BBC Sport. "I accept the decision and take responsibility for my actions."
How the case came to light
Swiss outlet Blick reported on 18 September that criminal proceedings had been opened against Xhaka. Three days later he admitted buying a forged certificate in 2022, when he was still an Arsenal player, saying he had felt "mistrust" towards the vaccine and had been influenced by worries and uncertainty.
At the time, Covid-19 certificates were needed in Switzerland for access to various activities and venues, and later mainly to meet entry rules for travel abroad. Xhaka, Switzerland's record appearance holder with 152 caps, then sat out the international break that has just ended by agreement with the Swiss Football Association, missing the Nations League games against Scotland, North Macedonia and Slovenia.
What happens next
The ruling closes the legal case, but his international future is still open. The Swiss Football Association told the Keystone-SDA news agency it had been informed of the prosecutor's decision, that it was good the matter was now legally concluded, and that it could now hold the talks it had announced with the player about the future.
At club level, Xhaka is expected to return when Sunderland host Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday (15:00 UK). Sunderland head coach Régis Le Bris declined to comment on what he called external topics, but said Xhaka had "trained really well" during the break and was "in a good place football-wise".