Victims of Czech coach Petr Vlachovsky have called for a global lifetime ban after he avoided prison for secretly filming women players.
A Czech court handed Vlachovsky a one-year suspended prison sentence. Authorities also banned him from coaching for five years. He filmed 14 female footballers in changing rooms and showers over four years.
Vlachovsky coached girls and women at 1. FC Slovacko for nearly 15 years. He also managed the Czech Republic Under-19 women’s team. In the past, officials voted him the best women’s coach in the country.
Police arrested him in September 2023 after discovering the hidden footage online. Investigators also found child sexual abuse material in his possession.
Players Learned After His Arrest
Players at 1. FC Slovacko only discovered the recordings after police made the arrest. The global footballers’ union FIFPRO confirmed that Vlachovsky hid a camera inside a backpack. The youngest victim was 17 years old.
A group of victims has now spoken publicly. They described fear, anxiety, and sleepless nights. Some said they feel unsafe in public spaces.
Calls for Global Action
FIFPRO has urged the Football Association of the Czech Republic to impose a lifetime ban. The union says criminal and football disciplinary processes run separately. It wants football authorities to take stronger action.
FIFPRO is also exploring legal options to push for a worldwide ban. The union argues that the current punishment does not reflect the seriousness of the offences.
The victims did not attend a public trial. They also could not appeal what they view as a lenient sentence.
FACR chairman David Trunda admitted the association had not addressed such cases strongly in the past. He said the federation wants to focus more on player and child safety going forward.
Similar Case in Austria
The case follows a similar incident in Austria. A former official at SC Rheindorf Altach received a suspended sentence for secretly filming women players in changing rooms and gym areas. The court fined him and ordered compensation payments to victims.
The growing number of cases has increased pressure on football bodies to strengthen safeguarding measures and enforce stricter lifetime bans for sexual offences.
