Union Berlin denounce sexist attacks on new coach
Union Berlin has condemned sexist online abuse directed at Marie-Louise Eta after she became the first woman to take charge of a Bundesliga team.
Eta was appointed interim head coach at the weekend for the remainder of the season after the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart.
She will oversee the men’s first team through to the end of the campaign before moving to the club’s women’s side.
Her appointment, however, has been followed by derogatory and sexist comments on social media.
"I’ve noticed it, but I also refuse to read or even just expose myself to that kind of nonsense, because for me, this is about leadership quality," Union director of football Horst Heldt said.
"We have 100 per cent confidence in Loui [nickname for Eta], complete conviction."
Heldt said it was disappointing that the club had to respond to such criticism in 2026, calling the discourse "insane" and "embarrassing".
Union will continue to protect staff from harassment, with Heldt adding the club will do everything possible to ensure the debate does not continue.
There was a positive reaction to Eta's appointment within the game as well, with women's international team bosses Sarina Wiegman of England and Spain's Sonia Bermudez both lauding the news.
"It's great, she's a trailbalzer," Wiegman said.
"This [a female coaching a men's team] was a matter of time anyway. It's exciting. It shows again that football is moving up.
"There are women in society everywhere, and the next step is that it's also [the same] in football, male and female."
Bermudez concurred with Wiegman's comments.
"Yes, it's fantastic news and very important for the sport," the Spain boss said.
"The most important thing is the knowledge, the work, not the gender. My personal view is that this is the way forward and that doors are being opened.
"It's progress for football and for women."
Union is 11th in the Bundesliga standings and Eta's first match in charge will be a home fixture against relegation-threatened Wolfsburg this weekend.
