Columbus Crew 2 fires Higuain after fallout from ref abuse

The Columbus Crew announced that Crew 2 manager Federico Higuain has been fired for cause, effective immediately, in the wake of his suspension by MLS NEXT Pro following an incident of misconduct towards a female referee.

"We determined it's in the best interest of our Club, players and support staff to dismiss Federico Higuaín from his responsibilities," said Crew General Manager Issa Tall in prepared statement. "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," The Crew's statement added that for the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs, the Crew 2 technical staff will assume additional responsibilities ahead of the Club's search for a full-time head coach for the side.

Higuain, 41, was suspended for two games following an Aug. 23 incident that involved him refusing to let go of the hand of a female referee during the post-game handshake, despite being asked three times to do so. Higuain also directed a sexist remark toward the referee saying: "Don't forget that this is a man's game."

Higuain, who excelled as a player for the Crew over eight seasons, was red carded for the incident. In addition to the two-game suspension, Higuain was ordered to undergo restorative practice training, sources told ESPN.

An MLS NEXT Pro spokesperson confirmed that Higuain was suspended for just one additional game, as the policy allows for the red card to count towards the total suspension. The same spokesperson wasn't able to answer the question of why Higuain's actions didn't constitute a forceful grab.

The Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA), the union that represents MLS and USL referees, brought the incident to light over the weekend, stating in a social media post that it was not satisfied with the penalties, adding that a "forceful grab" plus the discriminatory language should have been penalized more severely.

While the PSRA's post didn't mention Higuain by name, ESPN reported that the coach in question was Higuain.

"The League's response falls drastically short of the right message to the participants, the referees, and the public. It needs to be reevaluated," the PSRA's social media post read.

The Crew initially issued a statement stating that, "The Crew actively collaborated with MLS NEXT Pro throughout the review process and fully accepted the additional discipline issued in accordance with league policies.

"We condemn any action or notion that contradicts our mission of uniting and uplifting all communities and genders through the global game."

But sources with knowledge of the Crew's decision to fire its coach told ESPN that the club wasn't satisfied with Higuain's response to the incident, saying there was a "lack of contrition" on his part, that he refused to issue a public apology to the female referee, and that there was an overall lack of accountability on the part of its second-team coach.

There was pressure from several of the Crew's supporters groups as well, including the Nordecke and CapyBrava, which both made social media posts demanding that Higuain be fired.

One source said that Higuain was informed of the club's decision early Tuesday afternoon.

In a statement given to ESPN on Sunday, MLS NEXT Pro said the league "immediately investigated the reported incident between the head coach and the female official. It was determined that the coach's behavior violated League policies and warranted additional discipline beyond the red card that was issued in the moment. He served a two-game suspension and is required to participate in a multi-session restorative practices process, which is already underway. The program is intended to support the League's efforts to foster understanding, accountability, respect, and the restoration of relationships across the League. MLS NEXT Pro believes in the restorative approach. The League is confident in its process and the results."