Federico Higuaín fired from Columbus Crew after referee incident
25 september 2026 в 09:02
The MLS club Columbus Crew has fired assistant coach Federico Higuain following an alleged incident involving a female referee during a match on August 23. Club general manager Issa Tail stated that the decision to terminate Higuain was made in the best interest of the club, players, and staff.
Higuain, who is 41 years old, had already served a two-match suspension for an incident that reportedly involved a sexist remark and physical intimidation. He received a red card and was sent off the field. The firing came a month after the match amid public outrage, including a strong statement from the Professional Referee Organization.
In the statement, the Organization said that during a recent MLS NEXT Pro match, the coach committed two intentional acts of physical violence and sexism against the female referee, squeezing her hand and refusing to let go after three warnings. He also made a derogatory sexist remark: «Don't forget, this is a man’s game». The Organization noted that the two-match suspension and other disciplinary measures did not meet the standards of US Soccer.
The statement emphasized that US Soccer policy requires a minimum three-match suspension for such actions. The Organization also pointed out that coaches should adhere to higher professional standards than players. In conclusion, it was stated that women make the game better at all levels and should not be subjected to intimidation or derogatory comments.
Higuain, who is 41 years old, had already served a two-match suspension for an incident that reportedly involved a sexist remark and physical intimidation. He received a red card and was sent off the field. The firing came a month after the match amid public outrage, including a strong statement from the Professional Referee Organization.
In the statement, the Organization said that during a recent MLS NEXT Pro match, the coach committed two intentional acts of physical violence and sexism against the female referee, squeezing her hand and refusing to let go after three warnings. He also made a derogatory sexist remark: «Don't forget, this is a man’s game». The Organization noted that the two-match suspension and other disciplinary measures did not meet the standards of US Soccer.
The statement emphasized that US Soccer policy requires a minimum three-match suspension for such actions. The Organization also pointed out that coaches should adhere to higher professional standards than players. In conclusion, it was stated that women make the game better at all levels and should not be subjected to intimidation or derogatory comments.
© Smirnova Olga
