Columbus Crew Fires Reserve Coach Federico Higuaín Over "Physical Abuse and Sexism" Toward Female Referee

Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew have fired Federico Higuaín, head coach of the club's reserve team, following an incident that a professional referees' association described as an act of "physical abuse and sexism" directed at a female official. Higuaín, who took over as head coach of Crew 2 in January 2025, squeezed a female referee's hand and refused to release it during a recent MLS NEXT Pro match, telling the official, "Don't forget this is a man's game." MLS NEXT Pro Suspension Preceded the Firing MLS NEXT Pro investigated the incident and initially suspended Higuaín for two matches. The Crew subsequently dismissed him from his role entirely. Club general manager Issa Tall said in a statement released Tuesday that after conversations throughout the week and further review of the past month, the club determined that its standards for leadership had not been met, and that dismissing Higuaín was in the best interest of the organization, its players, and support staff. Referees' Association Calls Initial Punishment Inadequate Before the Crew announced Higuaín's firing, the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA), which represents professional soccer officials across the US and Canada, criticized the two-match suspension issued by MLS NEXT Pro, saying it fell drastically short of sending the right message. In a statement released Sunday, the PSRA described the incident as two deliberate acts of physical abuse and sexism, noting that Higuaín squeezed the referee's hand and refused to let go even after being asked to stop three times. The organization said the physical intimidation was compounded by his demeaning remark about the game being a "man's game." The PSRA emphasized that women contribute meaningfully to every level of the sport and should not have to endure intimidation or degrading comments to prove their worth, adding that female officials have demonstrated excellence at the highest levels of competition and deserve the same respect, dignity, and safe working conditions as any other official. CNN Sports has reached out to MLS NEXT Pro for comment. Higuaín's Background With the Club Higuaín had a lengthy playing career with the Crew, scoring 59 goals and recording 51 assists across 210 appearances for the franchise. He is the brother of former Real Madrid, Napoli, and Argentina star Gonzalo Higuaín.