Petr Vlahovski, the coach of the Czech women’s soccer club who photographed players in the changing room, has been banned for life.
Published May 20, 2026
European football’s governing body has announced that Petr Vlahovski, the Czech women’s soccer coach, has been permanently banned for secretly filming players.
In a statement released on Tuesday, UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) announced that following an investigation into allegations of potential misconduct, it had decided to impose a “lifetime ban on all football-related activities” on Vlachowski.
“The CEDB has further decided to request FIFA to extend the above-mentioned ban at a global level and to order the Czech Football Association to revoke the coaching license of Petr Vlačovski,” the statement added.
Czech media reported that the coach was found guilty in May 2025 and was initially given a one-year suspended prison sentence and a five-year ban from coaching in the country for filming FC Slovacko’s youngest player, 17, in the changing room. According to the indictment cited by Czech media, Vlahovsky confessed and expressed regret.
Vlahovski previously coached the Czech Under-19 women’s team.
“This is a very serious and distressing issue that came to light in 2023 and has had a serious impact on our club and above all on the players affected,” an FC Slovacko spokesperson told Reuters.
“From the moment we learned of the allegations, the club took immediate action, discontinued cooperation with the former manager and cooperated with the relevant authorities.
“Throughout this process, the club has viewed itself as a victim and has approached this matter with the utmost seriousness, consideration and respect for the victim.”
Football players’ union FIFPRO welcomed the ban and UEFA’s request for world football governing body FIFA to impose an international ban on Vulakhovski.
“This result sends a strong and necessary message that abusive and inappropriate behavior has no place in football and that protecting the health of players must remain a priority at all levels of the game,” FIFPRO added in a statement.
