A women's football coach who secretly filmed his players undressing has been handed a lifetime ban from all football-related activities. Petr Vlachovsky, the former head coach of 1. FC Slovacko in the Czech Republic, was convicted last year for filming 15 players between 2019 and 2023. The youngest victim was 17 years old.
Vlachovsky, 42, used a hidden camera in his backpack to record players showering and changing in dressing rooms after training and matches. He was arrested in September 2023 after police discovered the footage online. Authorities also found child sexual abuse material in his possession.
He received a suspended one-year prison sentence and a five-year coaching ban in the Czech Republic. However, UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) has now imposed a lifetime ban, citing violations of ‘the basic rules of decent conduct’ and bringing the game into disrepute. UEFA has also written to FIFA requesting the ban be extended globally.
Fifpro, the global players' union, welcomed the decision. In a statement, Fifpro and FIFPRO Europe said: ‘This outcome sends a strong and necessary message that abusive and inappropriate behaviour has no place in football and that safeguarding the wellbeing of players must remain a priority at every level of the game.’
The union highlighted its ongoing advocacy for stronger protections against abuse, harassment, and misconduct, including non-contact sexual abuse. ‘Players must be able to work and compete in environments where they feel safe, respected and protected from abuse, harassment and misconduct,’ the statement continued. ‘Decisions such as this are an important step towards ensuring that individuals who violate those standards are removed from the game.’
Fifpro commended the Czech players' union for its support of the victims and praised the courage of the players who came forward. It also welcomed UEFA's request for FIFA to extend the ban worldwide and for the Football Association of the Czech Republic to revoke Vlachovsky's coaching licence. ‘Football has a collective responsibility to create and maintain safe workplaces for players,’ the union added.
