UEFA has imposed a lifetime ban on Petr Vlachovsky, a Czech women’s football coach, after he was found to have secretly filmed his players. The governing body announced its decision on Tuesday, following an investigation into allegations of misconduct.
Czech media reports indicate that Mr Vlachovsky was convicted in May 2025, receiving a suspended one-year prison sentence and a five-year domestic coaching ban. This conviction stemmed from his actions of filming FC Slovacko players in changing rooms, with the youngest individual involved being 17 years old.
Players’ union Fifpro reports that players of 1. FC Slovacko only learned about Vlachovsky’s secret filming after he was arrested.
Earlier this year, a group of the victims demanded further action against the 42-year-old, with some players telling Czech media publication Seznam Zpravy that Vlachovsky’s crimes had traumatised them, causing fear at nighttime and anxiety about in public in case they were being filmed.
UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) confirmed its decision to prohibit Mr Vlachovsky “from exercising any football-related activity for life”. The CEDB has also requested FIFA to extend this ban globally and has instructed the Football Association of the Czech Republic to revoke Mr Vlachovsky’s coaching licence.
The players’ union FIFPRO welcomed the ban, along with UEFA’s call for a worldwide prohibition.
“This outcome sends a strong and necessary message that abusive and inappropriate behaviour has no place in football and that safeguarding the wellbeing of players must remain a priority at every level of the game,” FIFPRO, the global players union, said in a statement.
Vlachovsky was arrested in 2023 when authorities found the footage online.
He had coached 1. FC Slovacko for nearly 15 years. He had also served as coach of the Czech Republic’s under-19 women’s national team.
FC Slovacko did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
