Outrage in Austria Over Lenient Sentence in Dressing Room Spy Case
A former official at the Austrian football club Altach has been handed a seven-month suspended prison sentence and fined €1,200 after being found guilty of secretly filming and photographing players in the women's team's changing rooms, gym, and showers. In a controversial ruling, the regional court in Feldkirch also ordered him to pay each victim €625 in compensation, a decision that has sparked widespread outrage among players and sports officials across Austria.
Judge's Remarks and Legal Proceedings
During the trial, the presiding judge emphasized a critical distinction in the case, stating that it makes a huge difference "if one looks at pictures or actually creates them oneself." The defendant accepted the sentence, but the prosecutor has reserved the right to appeal, indicating potential dissatisfaction with the outcome. The man had worked at Altach, which competes in Austria's top division, from 2020 to 2025, and approximately 30 players were identified in the illicit recordings and photographs.
Player Reactions and Emotional Impact
Eleni Rittmann, a former Altach player now with Evian in France, expressed her disbelief and anger in a powerful Instagram post. "This leaves me speechless," she wrote. "The perpetrator was not only a top-level referee in Switzerland but also an official at Altach. And that is where he filmed players, including minors. I then ask myself, is this an appropriate punishment?" Rittmann questioned whether the sentence serves as a deterrent, highlighting the profound emotional toll on the victims. "We felt secure in our dressing room and this hurt our privacy so badly that some of us do not feel safe in public showers even now. For me this is not a strong enough signal for something that is not tolerated in our society."
A statement from the victims, read aloud in court, underscored the betrayal and trauma experienced. "We are young women, partly still young girls. What has happened has pulled the rug from under our feet. For years he told us that the dressing room was our home but this home was then destroyed by someone who we thought was part of this family."
Political and Institutional Responses
The case has reverberated through Austrian society, prompting strong reactions from political figures. Michaela Schmidt, the Minister of Sport, condemned the alleged crimes as "disgusting" when they were first reported by the local newspaper Vorarlberger Nachrichten in October. "If female athletes are not even safe in their own dressing rooms because of an official then they have nothing to stand on," she asserted, calling for greater accountability and safety measures in sports environments.
In response to the scandal, Altach has initiated internal processes to enhance protective and preventive measures. Manuel Willam, an assistant to the board at Altach, announced in early February that the club is collaborating with the Austrian Football Association and the Austrian Sports Federation to develop increased security protocols. These measures are slated for presentation in March, aiming to restore trust and ensure the safety of athletes.
Defense and Apology
The defense lawyer argued that the photos and videos had not been shared with third parties and had been seized and destroyed. At the trial's conclusion, the defendant addressed the victims directly in the courtroom, stating, "I agree with the statements made by my lawyer, but I would still like to express my sympathy to all those affected and apologise for my actions." Despite this apology, the leniency of the sentence continues to fuel debate over justice and deterrence in cases of privacy violations in sports.
The outcome of this case highlights ongoing concerns about the safety and privacy of female athletes, with calls for stricter penalties and more robust preventive measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
