By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
A former coach at Czech top-division women’s club has avoided prison despite being convicted of secretly filming 14 female players, including a minor, in changing rooms and showers over a four-year period, prompting calls from the global players’ union, FIFPRO, for a lifetime ban from all football activities.
Petr Vlachovsky, who previously coached the Czech Republic under-19 women’s national team, was given a one-year suspended sentence in May 2025 and a five-year ban from coaching within Czechia after police discovered hidden footage online.
Despite the conviction,which also included possession of child sexual abuse material, Vlachovsky never served prison time and faces no current legal restriction on coaching abroad once his domestic ban expires. The youngest woman filmed was 17 years old at the time of the recordings.
The case has caused outrage among players and safeguarding advocates, who describe the sentencing as “lenient” and “inadequate” given the severity of the privacy violations and psychological harm inflicted on the victims. Several former players have publicly spoken about lasting emotional distress, including anxiety and body-image issues, following the discovery of the covert footage.
FIFPRO, supported by the Czech players’ union (CAFH), is urging the Football Association of the Czech Republic to implement a lifetime ban for Petr Vlachovsky and other sexual offenders, arguing that current penalties fail to protect players or deter future abuses.
In official statements, FIFPRO has criticised the fact that the coach could resume a career in football, including internationally, once his domestic ban ends, and is exploring legal and administrative avenues to pursue a global ban on his involvement in the sport.
The controversy has reignited broader discussions about safeguarding standards in football, particularly regarding non-contact sexual abuse and how sporting bodies and legal systems handle such cases.
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