Columbus Crew II dismiss Federico Higuaín after referee incident
The short version
- Columbus Crew II fired head coach Federico Higuaín after an August 23 MLS NEXT PRO incident.
- The PSRA said he squeezed a female referee's hand, refused repeated requests to let go, and made a sexist remark.
- He had been suspended three matches in total and required to complete restorative practice training.
- GM Issa Tall said the club's leadership standards were not met.
- Higuaín played 193 games for the Columbus senior team from 2012 to 2019.
The reserve-team coach was let go after the referees' union said he physically intimidated a female official and made a sexist remark during an MLS NEXT PRO match.
Columbus Crew II have parted ways with head coach Federico Higuaín following an August 23 incident in an MLS NEXT PRO match. According to the Professional Soccer Referees Association, the 41-year-old squeezed a female official's hand and would not release it even after being asked three times, then told her, 'Don't forget, this is a man's game.'
The league initially suspended Higuaín for two matches, adding a third because of the red card, and ordered restorative practice training. The union condemned his behavior as two deliberate acts of physical abuse and sexism, saying female officials deserve the same respect and safe working conditions as anyone else.
Columbus general manager Issa Tall said the club concluded that dismissing Higuaín served the best interests of the organization, its players and its staff, adding that the standards expected of a leader had not been met after conversations during the week and a review of the past month. ESPN reported, citing a source, that the club was unhappy with what it saw as a lack of contrition from the coach.
Higuaín, the younger brother of former striker Gonzalo Higuaín, joined MLS in 2012 and played for Columbus, DC United and Inter Miami, making 193 appearances for the Crew's senior side between 2012 and 2019. He moved into coaching in 2021, working in Inter Miami's academy and with Inter Miami II before taking charge of Columbus Crew 2.
