The MLS’ Columbus Crew have fired reserve coach Federico Higuaín after an alleged incident with a female referee during a match on August 23.
“We determined it’s in the best interest of our Club, players and support staff to dismiss Federico Higuaín from his responsibilities,” Crew general manager Issa Tail said in a statement published Tuesday, September 22. “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, 41, had already served a two-game suspension for the incident, which allegedly included a sexist remark and physical intimidation. He received a red card and was ejected from the match.
The decision to fire him, which came a month after the match took place, happened amid a public outcry, including a scathing statement from the Professional Soccer Referees Association.
“During a recent MLS NEXT Pro match, a male head coach committed two deliberate acts of physical abuse and sexism against a female official — squeezing her hand and refusing to let go after being told to stop three times,” read the statement, shared via X. “The physical intimidation was compounded by a demeaning, sexist remark to the official: ‘Don’t forget this is a man’s game.’”
The PSRA argued that the two-game suspension “and other non-suspension discipline” fell short of US Soccer’s own standards.
“US Soccer policy states a ‘forceful grab’ like this requires a minimum three-game suspension,” the statement read. “Acts of discrimination also require a minimum three-game suspension. MLS NEXT Pro’s own manual also states that. Coaches are held to ‘a higher professional standard than players.’”
It continued, “The League’s response falls drastically short of the right message to the participants, the referees and the public. It needs to be reevaluated.”
“Women make every level of this game better,” the PSRA concluded. “They should not have to endure intimidation or degrading. Comments to prove it. Our female officials have proven their excellence on the world state. They deserve the same respect, dignity and safe working environment as every other official.”
The statement did not name Higuaín specifically.
As a player, Higuaín spent nearly a decade in MLS, with most of that time coming as a member of the Crew. In 2012, his first season in the league, he won the MLS Newcomer of the Year Award.
A native of Argentina, Higuaín also played at the highest level of Argentine soccer, scoring 35 goals over 157 matches in the Argentine Primera División.
