Coach handed lifetime ban for secretly filming female players

Former Czech Republic Under-19 coach Petr Vlachovsky has been banned for life by UEFA for secretly filming women footballers in changing rooms and showers.

Vlachovsky was arrested in 2023 after police discovered the filmed footage online. He was also found in possession of child sexual abuse material

He was given a suspended one-year prison sentence and five-year coaching ban in the Czech Republic in 2025 after being convicted of filming 14 players over four years.

However, following an investigation by Uefa’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB), Vlachovsky was found to have breached regulations covering insulting or indecent behaviour and bringing football into disrepute.

The body also asked FIFA to make the ban worldwide while also ordering Czech Republic to revoke Vlachovsky’s coaching licence.

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European football ruling body, UEFA announced the ruling on Tuesday in a statement.

The statement reads: “The individual is banned from exercising any football-related activity for life.”

Vlachovsky coached Czech Republic U-19 women’s team for 15 years, he recorded the players in their private moments in the changing room on his camera hidden in a backpack, and the youngest victim was aged 17.

Fifpro welcomed Uefa’s ban, saying: “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.”

Vlachovsky also coached women and girls at top-tier club 1. FC Slovácko for four years.