A shocking breach of privacy involving secret cameras installed in the changing rooms, gym and showers of the women’s football team at SCR Altach in Austria has entered the legal spotlight — and drawn fierce criticism from players and officials alike.
Former Club Official to Face Justice After Secret Filming
A former club official has been convicted of secretly recording and photographing around 30 female players from the Altach women’s team — some of whom were minors at the time of the recordings. These were made over several years (between 2020 and 2025) inside private areas such as locker rooms, the gym and showers.
In a judgment handed down earlier this week by the regional court in Feldkirch, Austria, the man received a seven-month suspended prison sentence and was fined €1,200 for his crimes. He was also ordered to pay each victim €625 in compensation — a decision that has provoked widespread anger.
Although the defendant accepted the sentence, the public prosecutor’s office has indicated it may appeal, so the verdict is not yet final.
Players and Officials React with Shock and Outrage
Many of the affected players have expressed their dismay at how light the penalty appears, given the scale of the privacy violation. Eleni Rittmann, a former Altach player now at Évian FC in France, described the ruling as leaving her “speechless,” questioning whether it acts as a sufficient deterrent and emphasising the deep betrayal felt by victims.
Victims released a statement saying that their former dressing room — once a place they felt safe — had been destroyed as a sanctuary by someone they trusted.
Austria’s Minister of Sport, Michaela Schmidt, labelled the conduct as “disgusting” and stressed that if female athletes are not even secure in their own locker rooms because of someone in a position of authority, then “they have nothing to stand on.”
Club Response and Next Steps
SCR Altach has pledged support for the players and said it is working with the Austrian Football Association and the Austrian Sports Federation to develop stronger safety and security measures, expected to be announced later this spring.
The case has resonated beyond football, prompting calls for broader reforms to protect athletes from breaches of privacy, sexual misconduct and abuse of trust.
From: SNN