Columbus Crew 2 has dismissed head coach Federico Higuaín following allegations of misconduct involving a female referee during an MLS NEXT Pro match on August 23. Higuaín reportedly squeezed the referee's hand, refused to let go when asked three times, and made a sexist remark stating, "Don't forget, this is a man's game."
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The Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) characterized the actions as both physical abuse and sexism, questioning the adequacy of the two-game suspension Higuaín previously received for the incident.
Higuaín, who took over as Crew 2 head coach in January 2025, faced severe scrutiny following the controversy, prompting the club to take stricter measures. He became the focus of significant media attention after the PSRA publicly called out the league's handling of the matter.
The dismissal reflects the increasing intolerance for misconduct in sports, especially regarding gender issues. Higuaín, known for his previous career as a player for the Columbus Crew, is the brother of former professional soccer star Gonzalo Higuaín.