Swiss Ice Hockey Federation Dismisses Patrick Fischer as Head Coach After False COVID-19 Certificate Use

Patrick Fischer was fired as head coach of the Swiss men's hockey team on April 15, 2026, following his admission of using a false COVID-19 vaccination certificate to travel to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation initially supported Fischer, stating the case was closed after his admission, but later dismissed him amid ongoing public debate about values and trust in the sport.

In a statement, Fischer acknowledged his serious mistake, expressing regret for disappointing people.

He stated he was in an extraordinary personal crisis at the time, as he did not want to be vaccinated, and did not want to let his team down at the Olympic Games. Fischer faced a fine of nearly 39,000 Swiss francs, approximately $50,000, for document forgery related to the incident.

Urs Kessler, a representative of the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation, noted that while the case was legally closed, it had triggered discussions about the fundamental values and respect within Swiss Ice Hockey, which he stated Fischer did not uphold.

Kessler described the federation's initial assessment of the situation as too short-sighted. Jan Cadieux, who was previously Switzerland's under-20 coach, will take over as head coach immediately. Cadieux had been announced as Fischer's replacement starting next year.

Fischer had been in his role since 2015 and led the Swiss team to three Olympics, earning three world championship silver medals. The Swiss hockey team reached the quarterfinals at the 2022 Olympics, where COVID-19 testing was a requirement, and athletes were required to be vaccinated or face a three-week quarantine in a hotel prior to the Games.

Switzerland is set to host the world championship next month after April 15, 2026.