The head coach of the Swiss national ice hockey team, Patrick Fischer, has been fired after admitting to providing a false COVID-19 test report at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the federation's official website reported.
Coach Fischer, 50, admitted that he used a fake COVID-19 vaccination certificate to bypass China's restrictions and travel to the 2022 Winter Olympics. At the time, athletes and coaches in Beijing were required to either have a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or undergo a three-week quarantine in a hotel.
The coach said he had made a “serious mistake in this matter” and the federation supported him by closing the case. However, Fischer was later fired from his position as head coach.
“The case is legally closed, but it has sparked a public discussion about values and trust, which the association takes very seriously. Our initial assessment of closing the case was too short-sighted. It is about values and respect that are central to Swiss ice hockey and which Patrick Fischer did not live up to in 2022,” the Swiss federation said in a statement on behalf of its president, Urs Kessler.
“The association regrets that it paid too little attention to this aspect during the first assessment. At the same time, the association thanks Patrick Fischer for his undeniable great sporting achievements. Under his leadership, the Swiss national team has continuously developed over a decade, rising from eighth to second place in the world rankings, winning three silver medals, which has left an unforgettable mark on Swiss hockey,” the press service added.
Switzerland finished eighth at the 2022 Olympics. The team also competed at the 2026 Games in Italy, where under Fischer's leadership the Swiss improved their result, finishing in fifth place, their best finish at that level in 74 years. After Fischer's dismissal, the team was led by Jan Cadier, who had previously coached the Swiss U-20 team.
Patrick Fischer: what is known about the coach?
- Fischer played 183 games for the Swiss national team as a player, participating in the 2002 and 2006 Olympics. He ended his hockey career in 2009.
- Fischer began his coaching career as an assistant at Lugano, which he took over in 2023 and spent two years in that position. Fischer also worked as an assistant coach to Sean Simpson and helped the Swiss national team win the silver medal at the 2013 World Cup, and also joined the coaching staff for the 2014 World Cup.
- Fischer became the head coach of the Swiss national team in December 2015. Since then, the team has won three silver medals at the IIHF World Championships under his leadership (in 2018, 2024, and 2025).