A former official with the Austrian top-flight football club Altach has received a suspended seven-month prison sentence and a fine after being convicted of secretly filming female players in team facilities. The regional court in Feldkirch also ordered him to pay each identified victim €625 in compensation.
The case, which involved hidden cameras placed in the women’s team’s dressing room, gym, and shower areas between 2020 and 2025, has provoked significant criticism. The court heard that approximately 30 players, some of whom were minors at the time, were recorded.
In her ruling, the presiding judge emphasized the severity of creating such illicit material, distinguishing it from merely viewing it. While the defendant accepted the verdict, the public prosecutor’s office is considering an appeal, citing the ongoing review period.
Reaction from those affected has been one of profound disappointment and anger. One former player, now based abroad, publicly questioned whether the punishment was proportionate or acted as any meaningful deterrent. She described a lasting loss of security, noting that the violation has eroded the players’ sense of safety even in public spaces.
A collective statement from the victims, read during proceedings, painted a poignant picture of betrayal. They described the dressing room as a sanctuary that had been violently violated by someone they considered part of their club’s family.
The scandal has resonated at the highest levels of Austrian sport, with the national sports minister previously condemning the actions as “disgusting” and a fundamental breach of trust that undermines athletes’ security.
The defense argued that the illicit material was never disseminated and has since been confiscated and destroyed. In a brief address to the court, the convicted man expressed remorse and apologized to the victims.
In response to the incident, FC Altach has stated it is undertaking an internal review. Club officials report collaborating with national football and sports federations to develop enhanced protective and preventive security protocols, with new measures expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
