Union Berlin has denounced the sexist online harassment aimed at Marie-Louise Eta, who has made history as the first woman to lead a Bundesliga team.

Eta was named interim head coach on Saturday for the remainder of the season following the termination of Steffen Baumgart’s contract.

She will manage the men’s first team until the end of the season before transitioning to oversee the women’s squad. However, her new role has been marred by offensive and sexist remarks circulating on social media.

“I have seen these comments, but I choose not to engage with or expose myself to such negativity, as I believe this is fundamentally about leadership qualities,” stated Union’s director of football, Horst Heldt, on Monday.

“We have complete trust in Loui (a nickname for Eta), and our confidence in her is unwavering.”

Heldt expressed his disappointment that the club is facing such backlash in 2026, describing the situation as “insane” and “embarrassing.”

Union Berlin affirmed their commitment to safeguarding their staff against harassment, with Heldt indicating that the club will take all necessary steps to prevent the continuation of this discourse.

Currently, Union sits at 11th place in the Bundesliga standings and will face relegation-threatened Wolfsburg on Saturday.