Victims demand global ban for Czech coach who secretly filmed players
Victims of a Czech football coach who avoided prison despite secretly filming women players in showers and changing rooms have called for him to receive a global lifetime ban.
Petr Vlachovsky was handed a one-year suspended prison sentence and a five-year coaching suspension in the Czech Republic after being convicted of filming 14 players over a four-year period.
The former 1. FC Slovacko manager, who spent nearly 15 years at the club, had previously led the Czech Republic Under-19s women’s team.
Once voted the country’s best women’s coach, Vlachovsky was arrested in September 2023 after police discovered the covertly filmed footage online.
He was also found to be in possession of child sexual abuse material.
Union pushes for tougher sanctions
Global players’ union Fifpro reported that squad members at 1. FC Slovacko were only made aware of the violation following the arrest.
According to the representative body, the players were recorded via a camera hidden in a backpack, with the youngest victim aged just 17.
A group of those affected have now come forward to demand further action, viewing the initial sentencing handed down in May as overly lenient.
“Because the Czech criminal process and the Football Association of the Czech Republic (FACR) administrative proceedings are separate and can run in parallel, the union is challenging the FA to implement a lifetime football ban for Vlachovsky and all sexual offenders,” said a Fifpro statement.
“Fifpro is exploring possible legal avenues on behalf of players to achieve a global ban.”
“The victims did not have the opportunity to attend a public trial and could not file an appeal against what players view as extremely lenient sentencing.”
‘Afraid to sleep at night’
Speaking to Czech publication Seznam Zpravy, several players said the ordeal had left them suffering from anxiety in public spaces and fearing they were still being watched.
The psychological impact has reportedly left victims afraid to sleep at night.
David Trunda, chairman of the FACR, admitted the association had historically failed to address such issues adequately.
He insisted the governing body now aimed to “turn the tide” and pay greater attention to the safety of children and players.
The scandal follows a similar recent case in Austria involving a former official at SC Rheindorf Altach.
That perpetrator received a suspended sentence and a fine of 1,200 euros (£1,046) for secretly filming the club’s women’s team in changing areas, gyms, and showers.
