UEFA hands lifetime ban to Czech coach Petr Vlachovsky over secret filming scandal

UEFA has announced a lifetime ban for Czech women’s football coach Petr Vlachovsky after he was found guilty of secretly filming players.

The European football governing body confirmed the decision on Tuesday following investigations into allegations of serious misconduct involving players under his supervision.

Coach Previously Convicted in Czech Republic

According to Czech media reports, Vlachovsky was convicted in May 2025 after filming players of 1. FC Slovácko inside changing rooms. Reports stated that some of the affected players were minors, with the youngest reportedly aged 17.

The coach initially received a one-year suspended prison sentence along with a five-year domestic coaching ban imposed by Czech authorities.

UEFA Requests Worldwide Ban

In an official statement, UEFA’s disciplinary committee confirmed that Vlachovsky has now been banned from “any football-related activity for life.”

The organisation also revealed that it has formally requested FIFA to extend the punishment globally, effectively preventing him from working in football anywhere in the world.

UEFA further instructed the Czech Football Association to revoke his coaching licence permanently.

FIFPro Welcomes Decision

The International Federation of Professional Footballers, FIFPRO, welcomed UEFA’s decision and praised the request for a worldwide ban.

In a statement, FIFPro said: “This ruling sends a strong and necessary message that such violations and inappropriate behavior have no place in football, and that the protection of players must remain a priority at all levels of the game.”

Vlachovsky had previously worked with the Czech Republic women’s under-19 national team before the scandal emerged.