Swiss Sport Integrity, in a decision with measures, concluded that footballer Taulant Xhaka, during the FC Basel championship celebration, committed an ethics violation due to his disregard for the spirit of fair play and lack of respect towards opponents and their supporters.
At the end of May 2025, the reporting office for ethical violations and misconduct in Swiss sport received a report concerning a possible ethics violation by footballer Taulant Xhaka. During the spontaneous title celebration on the Barfüsserplatz balcony, he allegedly chanted hate messages directed at the fans gathered below. Swiss Sport Integrity subsequently opened an investigation into the player and informed him of his rights and obligations.
According to Article 2.3.1 of the Statutes on Ethics, serious breaches of the fundamental values of sport are considered unsporting behaviour, insofar as they are not already covered by game and competition regulations or other provisions. This includes, in particular, disregard for the principle of fair play and a lack of respect and consideration towards opponents and spectators. By repeatedly chanting the slogans “Death and hatred to FCZ”, Taulant Xhaka acted in a publicly unsporting manner, displaying a clear disregard for the spirit of fair play, showing no respect for opposing athletes or their supporters, and damaging the reputation of Swiss sport as a whole while violating basic standards of decency.
During the course of the investigation, a violation of Article 2.3.1 of the Statutes on Ethics in Swiss Sport was confirmed, committed by Taulant Xhaka during FC Basel’s title celebration. The case was concluded by Swiss Sport Integrity in accordance with Article 5.7.2.2 of the Statutes on Ethics, through a decision including specific measures. However, since Mr Xhaka had already been sanctioned on 16 May 2025 by the Disciplinary Committee of the Swiss Football League for the same incident, Swiss Sport Integrity deemed it appropriate to make the imposed sanction subject to a resolutive condition. This means that if the sanctions imposed by the Swiss Football League are fully complied with by the end of November 2025, the player will not be required to attend the behavioral coaching on the topic of violence imposed by Swiss Sport Integrity, nor pay the fine of CHF 3,900. The decision is final.