Columbus Crew Sack Federico Higuaín After Referee Incident

Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew have dismissed Crew 2 head coach Federico Higuaín following an incident involving a female referee during a match in August.

Higuaín, the brother of former Real Madrid and Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuaín, was in charge of the club’s MLS NEXT Pro side when the incident occurred after Crew 2’s match against Huntsville City FC on August 23.

According to reports, Higuaín was sent off and initially handed a two-match suspension after allegedly squeezing a female official’s hand during the post-match handshake and refusing to release it despite being told to stop three times.

He was also accused of making a sexist remark to the official, reportedly saying: “Don’t forget, this is a man’s game.”

Crew general manager Issa Tall said the club decided to terminate Higuaín after reviewing the incident and assessing its expectations for team leaders.

“We determined it’s in the best interest of our Club, players and support staff to dismiss Federico Higuaín from his responsibilities,” Tall said.

He added that the club’s standards for leadership had not been met.

The Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) had previously criticised the initial two-match suspension, describing it as insufficient given the nature of the incident.

The referees’ union said the alleged physical contact and remark amounted to intimidation and sexism, stressing that female officials should be able to work in a safe and respectful environment.

Higuaín had returned to the touchline after serving his suspension and completing part of a required restorative practices programme before the Crew decided to end his tenure.

Crew 2’s technical staff will oversee the team during the upcoming MLS NEXT Pro playoffs, while the club begins its search for a permanent replacement.