Czech Football Coach Receives Five-Year Ban for Secretly Filming Players
Petr Vlachovsky, a former coach at FC Slovacko in the Czech Republic, has been handed a five-year ban from all football-related activities in the country. This decision follows his conviction for non-contact sexual abuse, involving the secret filming of female players in their changing room over a four-year period. The case has sent shockwaves through the sport, with victims describing the ordeal as "something you only see in films."
Shocking Discovery and Police Investigation
Kristyna Janku, a defender who played under Vlachovsky, recounted receiving a call from a police officer in 2023. She was asked to visit a police station to review tapes, records, and pictures that identified her and other players as victims. "We were shocked and couldn't believe it was really happening," Janku said. "He was our coach for a long time, we had a good relationship with him, he was a person you could trust." Vlachovsky, once voted the best women's football coach in the Czech Republic, had also been found in possession of content related to child sexual abuse.
Inadequate Punishments and Global Concerns
In May of last year, Vlachovsky received a one-year suspended sentence, a fine, and the five-year ban. However, the Czech Football Association has not yet imposed additional sanctions, as his membership had lapsed by the time criminal proceedings began. There has been no complaint filed with FIFA's ethics committee, which could enforce a worldwide ban. Alex Phillips, secretary general of the global players' union Fifpro, warned that this case is "the tip of the iceberg," noting that many victims do not speak up due to lack of trust or reporting avenues.
Similar outrage emerged in Austria, where a man received a seven-month suspended sentence and a fine for filming the Altach women's team. These incidents underscore a broader crisis in women's football, where non-contact sexual abuse often goes unpunished or is met with lenient penalties.
Long-Term Effects on Victims
The psychological impact on players has been severe. Janku, now playing in Poland, described developing new habits, such as constantly scanning dressing rooms for hidden cameras and being more cautious in public spaces like pools. "I look at some situations differently, with coaches or members of staff, and I'm more careful about some conversations," she said. Other victims experienced vomiting, changed clubs, or were unable to return to their teams.
Alex Culvin, Fifpro's director of women's football, highlighted the harmful perceptions around such abuse. "People are like: 'Well, they haven't been raped so is it actually that bad?'" she said. One player developed body dysmorphia, affecting her career as a professional athlete.
Calls for Policy Changes and Stronger Safeguarding
Janku and other victims believe Vlachovsky's punishment was too lenient, noting that the experience will stay with them for a lifetime. "It's a joke because that experience will stay with us for a lifetime," Janku said. "We didn't and don't feel OK with the fact that he can come back to coaching. Even now he can coach abroad and he can coach kids, young girls."
Phillips emphasized the need for education and prevention initiatives, as well as an independent international entity to handle investigations and sanctions. He pointed out that many abuse cases, such as those in Haiti, Gabon, and Afghanistan, only came to light through journalism and union efforts, not federation action.
Believing Players and Moving Forward
Culvin compared the situation to the Me Too movement, stressing the importance of believing women and players, especially those who are less visible or valued. "Just believe players. That is the fundamental backstop of all of these examples," she said. The Czech FA is currently discussing changes to its safeguarding policy for sexual abuse cases, but advocates argue that more urgent and global action is needed to protect women and girls in football.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in the sport and the critical need for robust safeguarding measures to prevent future abuses.
