Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew has officially fired Federico Higuaín, the head coach of its reserve team, Crew 2, in the wake of a troubling incident involving a female referee. The decision comes after allegations surfaced regarding behavior during a recent MLS NEXT Pro match that the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) has formally categorized as “physical abuse and sexism.” Sports has reached out to MLS NEXT Pro for comment.
Reports indicate that during the contest, Higuaín grabbed and squeezed a female official’s hand, refusing to release it even after being instructed to stop on three separate occasions. Furthermore, he reportedly told the official, “Don’t forget this is a man’s game.” The PSRA, representing professional referees in the United States and Canada, publicly condemned the initial two-match suspension handed down by MLS NEXT Pro as insufficient. The association described the conduct as “physical intimidation” coupled with demeaning remarks, asserting that female officials deserve the same dignity and safe working environment as their peers. Our female officials have proven their excellence on the world stage. “Women make every level of this game better.
Following an internal review, Columbus Crew general manager Issa Tall announced the termination of Higuaín’s contract on Tuesday. Tall stated that the club determined it was in the best interest of the players, staff, and the organization to dismiss the coach, noting that the individual failed to meet the standards expected of a team leader. The club conducted conversations throughout the week to assess the situation before finalizing the departure. “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.”.
Higuaín, who took the helm of the reserve squad in January 2025, previously enjoyed a notable playing career with the Columbus Crew, where he recorded 59 goals and 51 assists across 210 appearances. He is also the brother of former Argentina, Real Madrid, and Napoli star Gonzalo Higuaín. While the club has moved to terminate his employment, the broader conversation regarding the safety and respect of officials in professional soccer continues to resonate following the PSRA’s call for higher standards in the sport.
