Columbus Crew have dismissed Crew 2 head coach Federico Higuaín following an incident involving a female referee during an MLS NEXT Pro match, after the league initially imposed a two-game suspension that was criticised by the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA).
The incident occurred following Columbus Crew 2’s match against Huntsville City FC on August 23, when Higuaín was shown a red card after an altercation with the match official during the post-match handshake. Multiple reports identified the official as referee Marie Durr.
According to the PSRA, Higuaín squeezed the referee’s hand and refused to release it after she told him to stop three times. The referees’ association also said he made the remark “Don’t forget, this is a man’s game.”
The PSRA described the conduct as “two deliberate acts of physical abuse and sexism against a female official”, arguing that the physical intimidation was compounded by what it called a demeaning and sexist remark.
Two-game suspension criticised
MLS NEXT Pro investigated the incident and determined that Higuaín’s conduct violated league policies. He received a two-match suspension and was ordered to participate in a multi-session restorative-practices programme. The league said the programme was intended to promote understanding, accountability, respect and restoration of relationships.
Higuaín had already served the two-match suspension before the PSRA publicly criticised the punishment.
The referees’ association argued that the sanction was insufficient, saying the league’s response “falls drastically short”of the appropriate message to players, coaches, officials and the public. The PSRA also pointed to U.S. Soccer’s policies concerning physical conduct toward referees and discriminatory behaviour.
Importantly, the PSRA’s initial statement did not name Higuaín, but ESPN reported that multiple sources identified him as the coach involved. Subsequent reporting and the Columbus Crew’s decision to dismiss him confirmed the identity.
Columbus Crew terminate Higuaín
The controversy escalated this week when Columbus Crew announced that Higuaín had been dismissed from his position with immediate effect.
Crew general manager Issa Tall said:“We determined it’s in the best interest of our Club, players and support staff to dismiss Federico Higuaín from his responsibilities.”
Tall added that after discussions and a further assessment of events over the previous month, the club concluded that “our Club’s standards of what’s expected from a leader for one of our teams have not been met.”
The club did not specifically describe the referee incident in its dismissal statement, but its decision came after the PSRA criticism and renewed scrutiny of the August incident. ESPN reported that the Crew had collaborated with MLS NEXT Pro during the original review and had accepted the league’s disciplinary decision at the time.
For the remainder of the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro playoffs, Crew 2’s existing technical staff will assume additional responsibilities while the organisation searches for a new full-time head coach.
Higuaín’s second spell with Columbus ends
The 41-year-old Argentine had returned to Columbus as Crew 2 head coach in January 2025 after previously establishing himself as a prominent player in the club’s history.
Higuaín made 210 appearances for the Columbus Crew, scoring 59 goals and providing 51 assists during his playing career with the club. He is also the older brother of former Argentina and Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuaín.
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