Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew have dismissed Crew 2 head coach Federico Higuaín following an incident involving a female referee during an MLS NEXT Pro match.
Higuaín, the brother of former Real Madrid and Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuaín, was removed from his position after the club reviewed his conduct following Crew 2’s August 23 encounter with Huntsville City FC.
The former Columbus player had already been sent off and handed a two-match suspension for his actions after the game. According to reports, Higuaín allegedly squeezed a female official’s hand during the post-match handshake and refused to release it despite being told three times to stop.
He was also reported to have made a sexist remark to the referee, saying: “Don’t forget, this is a man’s game.”
Columbus Crew general manager Issa Tall said the club decided to terminate Higuaín after further discussions and a review of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“We determined it’s in the best interest of our Club, players and support staff to dismiss Federico Higuaín from his responsibilities,” Tall said.
“After conversations this week and further assessing the past month, our Club’s standards of what’s expected from a leader for one of our teams have not been met.”
The Professional Soccer Referees Association had previously criticised the initial two-match suspension handed to Higuaín, arguing that the punishment did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the incident.
The referees’ union said Higuaín’s actions involved both physical intimidation and sexism, adding that the official had allegedly been subjected to unwanted physical contact despite repeatedly instructing him to stop.
The PSRA also stressed that female officials should be able to work in an environment where they are treated with the same respect and dignity as their male counterparts.
The union described the original two-match suspension as falling “drastically short” of what it believed was appropriate.
Higuaín had returned to the touchline after serving the suspension and completing part of a restorative practices programme before Columbus Crew ultimately decided to end his tenure.
With the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs approaching, Crew 2’s existing technical staff will take charge of the team while the club begins its search for a permanent replacement.
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