Disgraced Czech Coach Banned By UEFA for Life After Secretly Filming Female Players

European football’s governing body has handed a lifetime ban to Petr Vlachovsky, a former Czech coach who secretly filmed his female players in their changing rooms. Vlachovsky used a hidden camera placed inside a backpack to record the women while he was coaching the top-flight team FC Slovacko. The secret recordings took place over a four-year period between 2019 and 2023, with at least fourteen players filmed without their consent. The youngest victim was only seventeen years old at the time. The crimes were finally uncovered in September 2023 after police discovered the covert footage online, which immediately led to his arrest. During the investigation, authorities also found illegal child sexual abuse material in his possession. Before this lifetime ban was announced, Vlachovsky had faced a punishment that many considered to be far too light. In May 2025, a Czech court gave him a suspended one-year prison sentence and a five-year ban from coaching within the country. Because this initial ruling only applied to the Czech Republic, he could have potentially found work in football somewhere else in the future. This caused deep frustration among the affected players and the global players' union, FIFPRO. Some of the victims publicly shared that the horrific experience had left them afraid to sleep at night and constantly anxious in public spaces. The union actively campaigned for a harsher and wider penalty to keep him out of the game completely. Now, UEFA has stepped in with one of its strongest disciplinary actions in recent years to ensure Vlachovsky can never return to the sport. The new ruling permanently bans him from taking part in any football-related activity under UEFA's control. To close any possible loopholes, UEFA has also ordered the Czech Football Association to completely revoke his coaching license and asked FIFA to extend the lifetime ban worldwide. The players' union strongly praised the decision, stating that it sends a necessary message that abusive behavior has no place in football. They emphasized that protecting the safety and wellbeing of players must always remain the top priority at every level of the game.