Unknown person films female footballers showering at FC Naters – prosecution investigates
An unknown individual filmed players showering at FC Naters Oberwallis. The affected women filed a report, and the prosecution is investigating.
Voyeurism incident in Valais amateur football: camera directed at changing room window
As reported by 20 Minuten citing the "Walliser Boten", the senior team at FC Naters Oberwallis fell victim to a voyeurism incident: an unknown individual filmed the players whilst showering through an external window of the changing room.
A player noticed a hand holding a mobile telephone through a small shower window from outside after training. The team reacted immediately and left the changing room – the unknown person had already disappeared by that time, however. Due to an open-air festival in the vicinity, many people were on the grounds that evening, which according to the club made identifying the perpetrator more difficult.
Multiple sources confirmed the incident to the "Walliser Boten"; FC Naters Oberwallis itself also officially confirmed it and sent an internal statement to members. Whether image or video recordings exist and whether any were passed on is currently unclear according to club spokesperson Johnny Schalbetter. "We take this incident very seriously," Schalbetter stated. The club condemned the "serious violation of privacy" in the strongest terms; the affected women had the full support of the club. "Their protection and wishes have the highest priority in all further steps," he emphasised.
As an immediate measure, the club applied privacy film to the affected windows. Further measures are being examined together with the municipality of Naters, which owns the sports facility. The women's team will not use the relevant changing room for the time being. "It cannot be the case that something like this happens and the women have to be in the same changing room at the next training session as long as people can see in," said Schalbetter.
The affected players filed a report against an unknown person with the police; the prosecution has commenced investigations. "We do not tolerate this," Schalbetter made clear.
The case follows a similar incident: earlier in the year, a Swiss referee was convicted after secretly installing cameras in the changing room of a women's team at Austrian club SCR Altach.
Source: 20 Minuten