Columbus Crew Sacks Coach Higuain Over Sexist Referee Remark

The Major League Soccer outfit, Columbus Crew, has terminated the employment of its reserve team coach following an incident involving a female referee. Coach Federico Higuain, renowned as the sibling of ex-Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain, was dismissed after he reportedly held onto the official's hand against her will and stated, "don't forget this is a man's game." This contentious event, which occurred during an MLS Next Pro league fixture, initially led to Higuain's sending off and a two-game ban.

In an official statement, Issa Tall, the General Manager for the Crew, explained the club's decision. He declared, "We determined it's in the best interest of our club, players, and support staff to dismiss Federico Higuain from his responsibilities." Tall further elaborated that the club's leadership standards had not been upheld, stating, "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."

However, the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) voiced strong disapproval regarding the initial disciplinary action taken by the league, asserting that Higuain's initial two-match suspension "falls drastically short." The referees' union released a comprehensive statement detailing the incident, highlighting that "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." The statement further emphasized that "This physical intimidation was compounded by a demeaning, sexist remark to the official: 'Don't forget, this is a man's game.'" The PSRA concluded by affirming the invaluable contributions of women in football, stating, "Women make every level of this game better. They should not have to endure intimidation or degrading comments to prove it. Our female officials have proven their excellence on the world stage. They deserve the same respect, dignity, and safe working environment as every other official."