For four years, Petr Vlachovský secretly recorded his female players. A miniature camera hidden in his backpack captured young footballers as they changed in the dressing rooms and showered, both before and after training sessions and matches.
At least 15 players from top division club 1. FC Slovácko fell victim to the former coach, who also once served as manager of the Czech Republic’s U-19 women’s national team. The youngest was just 17 years old. Vlachovský had been widely respected in Czech women’s football and was even named Coach of the Year. His team had competed in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
The case came to light in 2023 when police, while monitoring illegal content on adult websites, discovered the recordings. On Vlachovský’s devices, investigators found dozens of videos from the Slovácko dressing rooms, along with child sexual abuse material. He had reportedly shared some of the footage with other users online.
A lenient sentence sparks outrage
In May 2025, a court issued a verdict without a full public trial. Petr Vlachovský received a one year suspended prison sentence (with a three year probation period), a fine, and a five year ban from coaching, but only within the Czech Republic. Each victim was awarded compensation of 20,000 Czech crowns (approximately £650–700 or $850–900).
The punishment triggered strong backlash from the players and football organisations. Czech Republic international Kristýna Janků, who now plays in the Polish league, publicly described the trauma she experienced at the police station when asked to identify herself in the footage.
“It’s simply a mockery. We all feel the same way,” Janků said. Some players vomited upon learning the truth, others struggled with sleep, and several left the club and sought psychological help. The players only discovered they had been filmed after Vlachovský’s arrest in September 2023. No one from the club had informed them earlier.
Players demand a lifetime ban
The Czech Association of Football Players (ČAFH), backed by the global players’ union FIFPro, is now calling for far harsher measures. They are urging the Czech Football Association and FIFA to impose a lifetime ban from any football related activity, both in the Czech Republic and worldwide.
Currently, the five year ban applies only domestically, meaning Vlachovský could legally take a coaching job abroad.
The scandal has drawn international attention and highlights a broader issue of power abuse and inadequate safeguarding in women’s football. It underscores the dangers of so called “non contact sexual abuse”, violations that do not involve physical touch but can cause deep and lasting psychological harm.
The Czech Football Association has so far taken no additional steps. Vlachovský’s membership in the federation had already expired before criminal proceedings began, which has complicated efforts to impose wider sanctions.
This case is not the first of its kind in European women’s football, but the courage of the players speaking out has brought it into the spotlight. Their demands could help drive meaningful changes in safety protocols and accountability for coaches across the sport.
Women’s football is growing rapidly, yet trust in those working with players must be earned and protected every single day. The Petr Vlachovský scandal shows just how fragile that trust can be.