UEFA has imposed a lifetime ban on Czech women’s football coach Petr Vlachovsky for secretly recording female players, the governing body announced on Tuesday. This decision follows Vlachovsky’s conviction in May 2025, when he received a suspended one-year prison sentence and a five-year domestic coaching ban for filming FC Slovacko players in changing rooms, some of whom were minors, with the youngest being 17 years old.
In a significant development, UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) revealed that after an investigation by an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector into the misconduct allegations, Vlachovsky was prohibited from participating in any football-related activities for life. UEFA has also requested FIFA to extend this ban globally and instructed the Football Association of the Czech Republic to revoke his coaching licence.
FC Slovacko has not yet issued a comment regarding the matter. Meanwhile, the football players’ union FIFPRO praised UEFA’s decision and its efforts to secure a worldwide ban through FIFA. FIFPRO emphasized that this ruling sends a powerful message that abusive and inappropriate conduct is unacceptable in football and that protecting players’ welfare must be a priority at all levels of the sport.
Previously, Vlachovsky served as the coach of the Czech women’s Under-19 team. This lifetime ban marks a decisive step in addressing misconduct within the football community.
