UEFA has issued a lifetime ban to Petr Vlachovsky, a Czech women's soccer coach who secretly filmed his players in changing rooms and showers. The European governing body's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body determined that Vlachovsky violated rules regarding insulting or indecent behavior, banning him from exercising any football-related activity for life.
Vlachovsky, who coached 1. FC Slovacko for nearly 15 years and previously served as coach of the Czech women's Under-19s national team, was arrested in 2023 after footage was discovered online. He was convicted in May 2025 of filming 14 players over a four-year period, the youngest of whom was 17. He initially received a suspended one-year prison sentence and a five-year domestic coaching ban.
Following the lifetime ban, UEFA requested that FIFA extend the restriction on a worldwide level and ordered the Football Association of the Czech Republic to revoke Vlachovsky's coaching license. The global players union, FIFPRO, welcomed the decision, stating that the outcome sends a strong message that abusive and inappropriate behavior has no place in football and that safeguarding player wellbeing must remain a priority at every level of the game.