Columbus Crew Sack Coach Over Sexist Remark To Female Referee

Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew have dismissed their reserve-team coach, Federico Higuain, following an incident involving a female referee during an MLS Next Pro match.

Higuain was sent off and subsequently handed a two-match suspension after allegedly holding the referee’s hand and refusing to release it despite being asked to stop three times.

He was also accused of telling the official, “Don’t forget this is a man’s game.”

The incident occurred during Crew 2’s match against Huntsville City FC on August 23. Higuain had served the suspension before Columbus Crew announced his dismissal on Tuesday.

Higuain, the brother of former Real Madrid and Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain, spent eight seasons as a player with Columbus Crew before moving into coaching.

Announcing his departure, Crew General Manager, Issa Tall, said the club reached the decision after reviewing the incident and assessing the previous month.

“We determined it’s in the best interest of our club, players and support staff to dismiss Federico Higuain 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 decision followed criticism from the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) over the league’s initial punishment.

The referees’ union said Higuain squeezed the official’s hand and continued holding it after she had instructed him three times to stop.

It also criticised his remark to the referee, saying the two-match suspension imposed on Higuain “falls drastically short”.

“Women make every level of this game better. They should not have to endure intimidation or degrading comments to prove it,” the union said.

The PSRA added that female officials had demonstrated their excellence at the highest level of the sport and deserved the same respect, dignity and safe working environment as other officials.