Global Football Union Calls for Worldwide Ban on Convicted Czech Coach
The world players union, Fifpro, has issued a strong demand for FIFA to enforce a global coaching prohibition against Petr Vlachovsky, a Czech coach who received a suspended prison sentence for secretly filming his female footballers in changing rooms and showers. This appeal highlights growing concerns over lenient penalties for non-contact sexual abuse in sports, with the case sparking outrage across the football community.
Details of the Conviction and Current Restrictions
Petr Vlachovsky was convicted in May 2025 without a public hearing, after evidence revealed he had filmed 14 players at FC Slovacko over a four-year period using a hidden camera. His youngest victim was just 17 years old. The court handed him a suspended one-year prison sentence and a five-year coaching ban, but this ban is limited to the Czech Republic only. Additionally, Vlachovsky was found in possession of child sexual abuse material, compounding the severity of his actions.
Previously, Vlachovsky coached the Czech under-19 women's national team, and under current regulations, he could resume his coaching career in the Czech Republic as early as 2030. However, he faces no restrictions internationally, a loophole that Fifpro and the Czech player union CAFH are urgently seeking to close through FIFA intervention.
Player Union Advocacy and Broader Implications
In a statement released on Tuesday, Fifpro emphasized that the Czech player union CAFH has been providing continuous support to the affected players since Vlachovsky's arrest. The union is challenging the Czech Football Association to implement a lifetime football ban for Vlachovsky and all sexual offenders, arguing that the current five-year domestic ban is insufficient. Marketa Vochoska Haindlova, CAFH chair and a Fifpro Europe board member, stated that publicizing the case was a strategic move to raise awareness about abuse in sports and prevent future incidents.
Haindlova criticized the suspended sentence and limited ban, calling for a zero-tolerance policy and a lifetime prohibition for such offenses. She noted, "The sentence of one year's suspended imprisonment with a three-year deferral does not send the right signal. Our goal is to use this case to push for an amendment that will call for a lifetime ban for all sexual offenders."
Parallel Case in Austria and Calls for Enhanced Safeguards
Fifpro's announcement follows a similar incident in Austria, where a former official at an Altach women's football team received a suspended prison sentence, a fine, and was ordered to pay compensation to victims for secretly filming in changing rooms. This case also drew criticism for perceived leniency, with former player Eleni Rittmann expressing disbelief at the punishment's adequacy as a deterrent.
Fifpro is advocating for improved safeguarding measures within the coaching industry and better international information-sharing when coaches are convicted in such cases. The union argues that current penalties often fail to address the gravity of non-contact sexual abuse, underscoring the need for stricter global standards to protect athletes.
