Kristyna Janku was taken aback when she received a call from a police officer, uncertain of what information awaited her. She had been exposed to various rumors and speculation, leaving her unsure about the veracity of the claims circulating around her. <\/p>\n
The police had arrested her former coach, Petr Vlachovsky, who had dedicated nearly 15 years to coaching women and girls at FC Slovacko and was once recognized as the best women’s football coach in the Czech Republic. Janku was about to learn the shocking details behind his arrest.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the police officer informed me of the situation, I had to go to the station to see the evidence,\u201d Janku recounted while reflecting on the events of 2023. \u201cUpon my arrival, I was shown video footage, records, images, and online conversations. The police needed us to verify our identities. We were utterly stunned, struggling to believe that this was actually happening, as it felt like a scene from a movie.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was revealed that Vlachovsky had been clandestinely recording Slovacko players in their locker room for four years and was also found to possess material related to child sexual abuse.<\/p>\n
According to Alex Phillips, the secretary general of the global players\u2019 union, Fifpro, this incident represents only \u201cthe tip of the iceberg,\u201d emphasizing that most individuals do not come forward, and many cases go unreported due to players\u2019 uncertainties about where to seek help or their lack of trust in the reporting process.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was shocked to learn that it had been happening for such an extended period,\u201d Janku expressed. \u201cHe was our coach for a long time, and we had a trustworthy relationship with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last May, Vlachovsky received a one-year suspended sentence, a fine, and a five-year prohibition from participating in any football-related activities in the Czech Republic. However, the Czech Football Association has yet to take disciplinary action, as his membership had expired by the time criminal proceedings commenced. Although the Czech FA has not reported the case to FIFA’s ethics committee, which could impose global bans, it is currently discussing potential changes to its safeguarding policies regarding sexual abuse cases.<\/p>\n
Now playing in Poland, Janku is concerned about the possibility of Vlachovsky appearing as a coach on the opposing side. \u201cI don\u2019t even want to think about that,\u201d she remarked. \u201cIt\u2019s truly unsettling.\u201d<\/p>\n
In February, a similar incident occurred in Austria, where a man received a seven-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of \u20ac1,200 (\u00a31,046) for secretly filming and photographing the Altach women\u2019s football team in their changing room, gym, and showers. He was also ordered to compensate each victim \u20ac625 (\u00a3545).<\/p>\n
Vlachovsky’s actions have profoundly affected Janku. \u201cI view certain interactions differently now, being more cautious around coaches and staff members. Some jokes that were once harmless now raise red flags for me. I find myself analyzing situations more than I used to, but I don’t want this to undermine my trust in all coaches or men,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n
Non-contact sexual abuse can lead to severe long-term consequences. Although Janku has not sought therapy from the Czech players\u2019 union and considers herself “one of the luckier girls” regarding the psychological impact, she still feels compelled to scan for potential hidden cameras in every dressing room, despite recognizing the improbability of finding one.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a difficult habit to break\u2014constantly looking around,\u201d the 31-year-old admitted. \u201cI\u2019m more discreet when changing before and after games and ensure that doors are secured. I\u2019m also more cautious in public settings, like pools, where I try to limit exposure even in private cubicles.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other players have experienced severe distress, with some needing to switch clubs and others unable to return to their previous environments.<\/p>\n
Alex Culvin, Fifpro\u2019s director of women\u2019s football, highlighted the inadequate response from governing bodies and the concerning perceptions surrounding the severity of such cases. \u201cSome people dismiss it by saying, \u2018They weren\u2019t raped, so how bad can it be?\u2019 This mindset is damaging,\u201d she explained. \u201cOne player even mentioned developing body dysmorphia due to this situation, which is particularly alarming as an athlete\u2019s body is crucial to their livelihood.\u201d<\/p>\n
Janku finds her healing through advocacy. \u201cI see an opportunity for change,\u201d she remarked, noting that all of Vlachovsky\u2019s victims feel his punishment was insufficient. \u201cIt\u2019s absurd because the trauma will remain with us for a lifetime. Many aspects of our lives and careers have been altered due to this experience. For us female footballers, it\u2019s not about financial gain, but we are deeply unsettled by the fact that he can still return to coaching, even abroad, and potentially work with young girls.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phillips emphasized that safeguarding education and prevention initiatives are increasingly prioritized by football governing bodies. However, he also stressed the need for a well-funded international entity independent of these organizations to manage investigations and impose sanctions effectively.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that in many regions, sexual abuse is not regarded as a significant issue. \u201cThere seems to be little motivation to address it, as there are no apparent benefits,\u201d he stated. \u201cThat\u2019s the perception, at least.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phillips noted that the most significant abuse scandals in football, such as those in Haiti, Gabon, and Afghanistan, only surfaced due to investigations led by journalists, often in collaboration with unions, despite federations already possessing the information.<\/p>\n
Culvin reflected on the parallels with the early stages of the Me Too movement, noting, \u201cThe message was clear: believe women. There\u2019s a troubling tendency to prioritize the needs of more prominent players over those deemed less valuable.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kristyna Janku was taken aback when she received a call from a police officer, uncertain of what information awaited her. She had been exposed to various rumors and speculation, leaving her unsure about the veracity of the claims circulating around her. The police had arrested her former coach, Petr Vlachovsky, who had dedicated nearly 15 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4398,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[251,569,88,360],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uk-football","category-uk-sport","category-uk","category-uk-women-s-football"],"yoast_head":"\n