Which is why Lian Bichsel is not pardoned – and why the Swiss ice hockey team is missing out on one of its greatest talents
Lian Bichsel, one of the best young Swiss players, will remain excluded from the national team until the 2026 World Cup. These are the background to the failed peace summit.
Lian Bichsel will still not play for the Swiss national ice hockey team.
Image: Claudio Thoma / freshfocus
The association generals should actually thank the hockey gods for a defender like Lian Bichsel on his knees. He just turned 20 in May. Last season he was outstanding in Sweden’s top league. The NHL first round draft is now trying to fight for a place in the most important league in the world in the Dallas Stars organization.
But Lian Bichsel has been excluded from the national team by association sports director Lars Weibel and national coach Patrick Fischer until and including the 2026 World Cup – including the 2026 Olympic tournament. Not because he was a Hallodri, but because the model professional did not follow the call-up for the U20 national team for understandable sporting reasons (concentration on appearances in adult hockey). Rarely has a sporting association decision made the ice hockey public so angry.
Wants to assert himself in Dallas: Lian Bichsel.
Image: Imago
Conversations with Bichsel’s father
The most important task of an association president is to master delicate situations. He does not have to interfere in the daily work of the association administration or the sports department. But thanks to the authority of his office, he is able to smooth things over as a mediator. Or should actually be able to do that.
The hopes were justified that Stefan Schärer would solve the “Bichsel case” as part of a “peace summit” in the summer. Especially since the association chairman has a handball past. He even played in the national team with André “Ändu” Bichsel, Lian Bichsel’s father. In fact, Stefan Schärer had announced before the Silver World Championships in Prague that he would take care of this matter.
Now a few months have passed, the first international matches are scheduled for the weekend, and it’s time to ask Stefan Schärer: What have you achieved in this matter? The answer is somewhat sobering. Nothing. Stefan Schärer says: “I talked to his father and then left the matter to our sports department.” And then? “You’ll have to check with the sports department.”
That doesn’t exactly sound like a committed peace mission.
Association President Stefan Schärer was unable to calm the situation.
Bild: Michael Buholzer / KEYSTONE
Nati coach Fischer is adamant
When asked, national coach Patrick Fischer confirmed that there had been no reconciliation and that the harsh sanction remained in force. «There have been discussions. Both sides reiterated their arguments. We have decided that the exclusion will remain until and including the 2026 World Cup. We have already commented on this several times and there is currently nothing more to add from our side. The decision still stands and is supported by all authorities.”
But does this harshest sanction in modern times make sense against one of the best young players who has committed no disciplinary or sporting fault? Lian Bichsel has all the prerequisites to develop into a top performer for the national team by 2026 and – since the NHL is releasing its professionals – to definitely be available for the 2026 Olympic tournament. Patrick Fischer at least finds comforting words: “Lian is still young, and there will be several more opportunities for him to take part in the Olympics after 2026.”
National coach Patrick Fischer remains adamant.
Bild: Freshfocus
Focus on NHL career
The response from Lian Bichsel’s manager Frédéric Holdener to a request for a statement may show how hardened the fronts have become in this matter: “For us, this matter is closed and we will no longer comment on it. Lian Bichsel is concentrating on his career in North America.”
Stefan Schärer has failed in his most important domestic political mission to date as association president. It may be that the magnificent silver World Championships were not conducive to the humility and willingness to compromise of Lars Weibel and Patrick Fischer. It may be that principles – the national teams must be followed, that’s it – make sense. But the base in Switzerland is narrow at 16,098 juniors compared to Sweden (43,759) or Finland (35,457). We have to take care of every talent. This unforgiveness in dealing with one of the most talented players is irritating.
