Granit Xhaka has been convicted for obtaining a false Covid-19 vaccination certificate – but has avoided a jail term that could have reached five years.He has been slapped with a total suspended fine of £136,265 across 50 days. Xhaka admitted that he had a ‘deep distrust’ of the vaccine and did not use ‘proper channels’ to obtain his vaccine certificate while he was with Arsenal in 2022.The vaccine was not mandatory for players to play in the Premier League, but did reduce their quarantine periods after close contact or travel.Swiss authorities investigated the case, with the possible penalties including a major fine and a maximum of five years behind bars, and he did not take part in Switzerland’s recent international camp.But the Sunderland star has escaped punishment despite being found guilty and said on Instagram: ‘A few weeks ago, I made a personal statement here and said that I take responsibility for my decision. I stand by that. Granit Xhaka has been convicted for obtaining a false Covid-19 vaccination certificate – but has avoided jail Xhaka is seen being substituted for Arsenal on November 12, 2022, the day after his disputed vaccine certificate is dated In photos put out by his club he was also training with Arsenal in London on the day of the Swiss jab certificate date – November 11, 2022’After I testified fully with the public prosecutor’s office, the decision of the public prosecutor’s office is now available.’I was sentenced via a summary penalty order (Strafbefehl) for obtaining a false certification (Erschleichen einer falschen Beurkundung) to a conditional fine of 50 daily rates of CHF 3,000 each, with a probation period of two years.’This means: The penalty will not be enforced if I do not commit any offenses during this time. I have already paid the procedural costs.’I accept the decision and take responsibility.’Thank you for the many supportive messages over the past few weeks. They mean a lot to me.’According to a report in Tages-Anzeiger, Xhaka’s vaccine certificate – which Swiss authorities suspect to be forged – is dated November 11, 2022.Yet just 24 hours later, Arsenal won 2-0 away at Wolves in the final game before the Qatar World Cup – a match Xhaka started but lasted only 16 minutes due to a gastrointestinal infection.The Swiss national team captain is said to have ‘obtained’ the certificate from a family doctor in Lucerne, raising questions about whether Arsenal would have sanctioned foreign travel the day before a Premier League match. Records show that Doctor Andrea Ludwig signed two vaccine certificates for Xhaka: January 25 2022 and November 11 2022 Xhaka posted this image from the training ground – the day of his apparent second vaccine Xhaka is pictured with his wife Leonita, who has been with the footballer since 2015Xhaka posted a team photo on Instagram on the date of his second vaccination, where he was presented with a framed shirt during training to mark his 200th Premier League appearance for Arsenal. He was also pictured training in London on that day. ‘In recent days, there has been much reporting about a matter from my past,’ Xhaka said in September. ‘I would like to address this personally.’Regarding the Covid-19 vaccination, I was personally very uncertain and had serious concerns at the time. I felt deep distrust of the vaccine and was plagued by fear and uncertainty.’In this turbulent emotional state, I obtained a vaccination certificate instead of clarifying my open questions through the proper channels. Today I clearly see that this was not the right course of action. It was a mistake. I am sorry.’I take responsibility for this decision, am committed to investigating the matter, and am fully cooperating with the relevant authorities.’Doctor Ludwig faced wider scrutiny over her conduct during the coronavirus pandemic. She was criticised for treating seriously ill coronavirus patients with cancer drug opaganib despite it never being an approved treatment – and was dubbed a ‘miracle doctor’ by sarcastic critics.Records show that Ludwig signed two vaccine certificates for Xhaka: January 25, 2022 and November 11, 2022.The first was on the eve of Arsenal’s training camp in the United Arab Emirates while the second was three days before he travelled to the Qatar World Cup.Xhaka is not thought to have broken any laws regarding travelling to Qatar or Dubai, as vaccines were not compulsory.He holds Switzerland’s all-time appearance record with 152 games for the national team and most recently captained them to the World Cup quarter-finals in North America.Ludwig justified the use of opaganib under ‘compassionate use’: the officially regulated use of drugs not yet approved outside of clinical trials.According to news outlet 20 Minutes, a controlled study was unable to prove that the drug worked as a remedy for COVID despite Ludwig claiming that it was effective with individual patients.