PRAGUE — The Czechia players union is advocating for a lifetime ban from soccer for sexual offenders following a coach’s case where he received only a one-year suspended sentence after secretly filming female players.
Petr Vlachovsky, the former coach at 1. FC Slovacko, was also handed a five-year ban from coaching domestically after it was revealed he had filmed women in changing rooms and showers over a span of four years.
The sentence, which was pronounced in 2025, came to public attention last month when several players shared their stories on the local news site, Seznam. The judgment was made without a trial, leaving the players without the option to appeal.
The Czech Association of Soccer Players, with the backing of the global players union FIFPRO, is pressing the Czech soccer association to impose a lifetime ban on Vlachovsky and all individuals convicted of sexual offenses.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the union noted, “FIFPRO is exploring potential legal avenues to secure a global ban on behalf of players.”
Currently, Vlachovsky could resume coaching in Czechia by the end of 2030, and there are no legal barriers preventing him from coaching abroad even sooner, according to FIFPRO. The victims were denied the chance to attend a public trial and could not appeal what many players consider an excessively lenient punishment.
FIFPRO further emphasized via a social media post: “Non-contact sexual abuse is still abuse, and it is imperative to protect players.”