A Czech women's soccer coach has been handed a lifetime ban by European football's governing body after a harrowing abuse case came to light. Petr Vlachovsky, who led 1. FC Slovacko for nearly 15 years and once coached the Czech Republic's under‑19 women's national team, was found to have installed hidden cameras in locker rooms and showers, recording more than a dozen female players.
A Dark Chapter in Czech Women's Football
The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body determined that Vlachovsky violated regulations covering insulting or indecent behavior, concluding that his actions constituted a severe breach of player safety. He received a one‑year suspended prison sentence and a five‑year ban from coaching within the Czech Republic, while UEFA has asked FIFA to extend the sanction to the international stage and urged the Czech Football Association to revoke his coaching licence.
Global players' union FIFPRO welcomed the ruling, emphasizing that the decision sends a clear message against abusive and inappropriate conduct in football. The organization highlighted the importance of safeguarding players' wellbeing and praised the thorough investigation that led to the conviction.
Vlachovsky's arrest in 2023 followed the discovery of the illicit footage online, prompting an immediate police response. The case has sparked renewed scrutiny of safeguarding protocols across European football, with officials promising stricter measures to prevent similar abuses in the future.