The Columbus Crew have dismissed Crew 2 head coach Federico Higuaín following an incident involving a female referee during an MLS NEXT Pro match on August 23.
According to the Professional Soccer Referees Association, Higuaín squeezed the official’s hand during a post-match handshake and refused to let go after being told three times to stop. The association also said he made the remark, “Don’t forget, this is a man’s game,” describing the conduct as physical intimidation and sexism.
Higuaín was sent off and received a two-match suspension from MLS NEXT Pro. The league also required him to participate in a multi-session restorative-practices process. The original punishment drew criticism from the referees’ association, which said that a forceful grab and discriminatory conduct should have triggered at least a three-match suspension under U.S. Soccer policy.
The Columbus Crew announced Higuaín’s dismissal on September 22. General manager Issa Tall said the decision followed conversations during the week and a further assessment of the previous month.
“We determined it’s in the best interest of our Club, players and support staff to dismiss Federico Higuaín from his responsibilities,” Tall said. “Our Club’s standards of what’s expected from a leader of one of our teams have not been met.”
Higuaín, 41, had coached Crew 2 since January 2025 after spending eight seasons as a Columbus player from 2012 to 2019. He leaves the club less than two years into his coaching tenure.
The Professional Soccer Referees Association condemned the reported conduct and reiterated that officials should be able to work without intimidation or degrading treatment.
“Women make every level of this game better,” the organization said. “They should not have to endure intimidation or degrading comments to prove it.”
The article is current as of September 23, 2026. The only important correction is that the incident was reported as occurring during a post-match handshake, and the league’s response included both a two-game suspension and restorative-practices sessions before the Crew later dismissed Higuaín.
