Patrick Fischer’s coaching career has taken another major hit after the IIHF handed the former Swiss head coach a four-year suspension stemming from his use of a forged COVID-19 certificate.
Patrick Fischer’s coaching career has taken another significant plunge.
The former head coach of Switzerland’s men’s national team has been suspended by the International Ice Hockey Federation for four years, effectively barring him from coaching any national team through 2030.
The ruling stems from an investigation into Fischer’s use of a forged COVID-19 certificate, which he used while traveling to the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing as Switzerland’s head coach.
Fischer was dismissed by the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation in April, shortly before Switzerland hosted the World Championship. The circumstances surrounding his departure became public shortly beforehand, following his conviction over the falsified document.
The IIHF has now taken its own disciplinary action.
Per the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, the governing body reached its decision after conducting their own investigation.
Fischer has yet to appeal.
The fallout represents a dramatic fall from grace for a coach who was once widely respected across the sport. He took over the national team in 2015 and guided Switzerland through multiple international tournaments before his tenure ultimately came to an abrupt end this spring.
Now, regardless of what comes next, his path back to the international game has become considerably longer.
Fischer will remain ineligible to coach a national team until 2030.
It’s unknown at this time if Fischer intends to appeal the decision.
