Columbus Crew have dismissed reserve-team coach Federico Higuain following an incident involving a female referee during an MLS NEXT Pro match. Higuain was accused of refusing to release the official’s hand during a post-match handshake and telling her to “remember, this is a men’s game”.
The Major League Soccer club announced his dismissal on Tuesday, after reviewing the incident and holding further discussions with the coach.
Higuain had already been shown a red card following the incident and was subsequently handed a two-match suspension by the league. Columbus Crew later conducted its own review before deciding to remove him from his coaching position.
Issa Tall, the club’s general manager, said Columbus had concluded that parting ways with Higuain was the appropriate decision for the organisation, its players and support staff.
“We have decided that removing Federico Higuain from his position is the best decision for our club, players and support staff,” Tall said.
He added that discussions held during the week, together with a review of events from the previous month, showed that Higuain had not met the standards expected of someone leading one of the club’s teams.
The incident took place in MLS NEXT Pro, the development competition associated with Major League Soccer. According to the Professional Soccer Referees Association, Higuain engaged in two deliberate physical interactions with the female official. The organisation said he continued holding her hand after three people had asked him to stop and release it.
The referees’ association also highlighted the comment allegedly directed at the official: “Remember, this is a men’s game.” It described the remark as insulting and discriminatory on the basis of gender.
The incident prompted criticism of the league’s initial disciplinary response. The Professional Soccer Referees Association argued that the two-match suspension did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the conduct and called for a suspension of at least six matches.
In a statement, the organisation said women contribute to football at every level and should not have to face threats or degrading remarks while carrying out their duties. It also stressed that female officials have demonstrated their ability on the international stage and should receive the same respect, dignity and safe working conditions as other match officials.
The matter was subsequently reviewed by Columbus Crew. According to The Athletic, citing unnamed sources familiar with the situation, Higuain was reluctant during later discussions with the club to reflect on his conduct or accept responsibility for what had happened. The report also said that he had not issued a public apology.
Higuain, a former Argentine forward, is the brother of Gonzalo Higuain, the former Argentina and Real Madrid striker. Federico Higuain also enjoyed a playing career before moving into coaching and taking charge of Columbus Crew’s reserve side.
Tall said the club’s decision followed a broader assessment of the standards expected from those in leadership positions. The club’s review therefore went beyond the initial disciplinary action taken by the league after the match.
The episode has also drawn attention to the professional relationship between coaches and match officials. Referees are required to make decisions under considerable pressure during matches, while coaches and players are expected to maintain professional conduct towards officials, including after contentious incidents.
For the refereeing community, the case has also raised concerns about the treatment of female officials working in football. The Professional Soccer Referees Association said women should be able to perform their responsibilities without facing physical intimidation or comments questioning their place in the sport.
- Higuain’s dismissal means the initial two-match league suspension has been followed by a separate employment decision from Columbus Crew. The club said its own review found that he had not met the standards expected of a coach leading one of its teams.
