SOCCER: UEFA hands lifetime ban to Czech coach who secretly filmed female players

UEFA has handed a lifetime ban to Petr Vlachovsky, a Czech women’s soccer coach who secretly filmed his players, the governing body announced Tuesday.

Czech media reported that Vlachovsky was convicted in May 2025 and initially received a suspended one-year prison sentence along with a five-year domestic coaching ban for filming FC Slovacko’s players in changing rooms, the youngest of whom was 17. According to the indictment cited by Czech media, Vlachovsky confessed and expressed regret over his actions.

In a statement, UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) said it had decided to ban Vlachovsky “from exercising any football-related activity for life” following an investigation by an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector into allegations of potential misconduct.

“The CEDB further decided to request FIFA to extend the abovementioned ban on a worldwide level and to order the Football Association of the Czech Republic to revoke Mr. Petr Vlachovsky’s coaching licence,” the statement added.

Vlachovsky had previously served as coach of the Czech women’s Under-19 team.

“This is a deeply serious and distressing matter which came to light in 2023 and had a significant impact on our club, and above all on the players affected,” a spokesperson for FC Slovacko told Reuters.

“From the moment we became aware of the allegations, the club acted immediately, terminated its cooperation with the former coach, and cooperated with the relevant authorities. Throughout this process, the club has regarded itself as an injured party and has treated the matter with the utmost seriousness, sensitivity, and respect for those affected.”

The club’s spokesperson added that it had no contact with Vlachovsky, and Reuters was unable to reach him or his representatives.

Football players’ union FIFPRO welcomed the ban, as well as UEFA’s request for FIFA to impose an international ban on Vlachovsky.

“This outcome sends a strong and necessary message that abusive and inappropriate behavior has no place in football and that safeguarding the wellbeing of players must remain a priority at every level of the game,” FIFPRO said in a statement.

-Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Tomasz Janowski/Reuters