Vienna plans criminal record checks for sports officials

Vienna is planning to require people working with minors in sports clubs to provide criminal record certificates every three years, with clubs risking the loss of city funding if they fail to comply, ORF reports, citing a position paper obtained by the Kurier.

The proposal calls for a current criminal record certificate and an extended certificate covering child and youth welfare. The rules would apply not only to coaches working with children and young people but also to full-time and volunteer officials.

About 100,000 people in Vienna could be affected. They would have to obtain the certificates at their own expense every three years. The standard certificate costs 29 euros, and the proposal includes exceptions for voluntary work.

The office of Vienna Sports Councillor Peter Hacker said the checks could help identify people with relevant criminal convictions or activity bans and prevent them from working with children and young people. Similar checks are already standard for other activities involving children, such as holiday camps, the office said.

The rules are still being discussed and are subject to an ongoing coordination process with relevant partners at federal and state level.