Austrian Football Shaken by Hidden Cameras Scandal in Women's Team's Changing Room
A man accused of placing secret cameras in the changing room and showers of the Altach women's football team is set to appear in court next week, in a case that has sent shockwaves through Austrian football. The incident, which involves the top-division Frauen-Bundesliga team based at the Cashpoint Arena in Altach, has led to widespread outrage and calls for enhanced safety measures in sports.
Details of the Alleged Crimes and Legal Proceedings
According to the Public Prosecutor's Office in Feldkirch, approximately 30 women have been identified on the recordings from the hidden cameras. Some of these individuals are considering civil lawsuits against the accused. The man faces charges under Austrian criminal law, including misuse of recording devices (section 120) and handling of image-based sexual abuse material (section 207a). It remains unclear whether he viewed, possessed, or produced the material. Local media reports suggest the discovery followed investigations by German and Swiss authorities into possible child pornography offences.
One player, speaking anonymously to reporter Markus Krautberger of Vorarlberger Nachrichten in November, described the team's shock upon learning about the alleged crimes through media reports. "We were completely shocked," she said. "The rug was pulled from under our feet." She added that processing the event has been challenging, with better and worse days, and frequent thoughts about the disgusting and grim nature of the situation.
Reactions from Officials and the Club
Michaela Schmidt, Austria's minister of sport, condemned the alleged crimes as "disgusting" and emphasized the need for a full investigation and overhaul by the club. "If female athletes are not even safe in their own dressing rooms because of an official then they have nowhere to stand on," she stated. Schmidt has sent a list of questions to Altach, which the club claims to have answered before Christmas.
In response, SCR Altach issued a statement assuring that support was immediately provided to players through professional victim support organisations. The club highlighted efforts to offer neutral external experts and internal contact persons for a supportive environment. Manuel Willam, an assistant to the board, noted that an internal process is underway to develop additional protective and preventive measures, in collaboration with the Austrian FA and Austrian Sports Federation, with results expected in March.
Broader Implications for Sports Safety
Claudia Koller, managing director of 100% Sport, which oversees safe sport initiatives in Austria, pointed out the difficulties in prevention strategies. "A safeguarding policy must be communicated and be completely transparent," she told Der Standard. "Its purpose is to protect someone in an emergency or to direct them to relevant resources – and if this isn't clearly visible, it's useless." She added that criminal record checks, while not a complete solution, send a signal of attention, but only if someone has prior convictions.
Schmidt stressed the importance of learning from the Altach Causa, as it is known in Austria, to prevent future incidents. "Everyone in sport deserves to be protected from boundary violations, abuse of power or sexual harassment," she said. "It is clear that we need significantly more prevention than we have now. Something so horrible must never happen again. It is the lowest of the low and that is why I will fight together with Austrian sports clubs."
Media Coverage and Player Advocacy
Markus Krautberger, who has led coverage of the scandal, reported that several players approached him to share their stories, wanting to ensure the issue was not downplayed. "It is important to highlight what has happened," he said. However, after initial articles were published, obtaining responses from the club became more challenging, indicating the sensitivity and fallout of the case.
The scandal has highlighted broader issues in women's sports safety, with hopes that it serves as a wake-up call for Austria and beyond. As the legal proceedings unfold next week, the football community awaits justice and meaningful changes to protect athletes from such violations in the future.
