Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew have sacked reserve team coach Federico Higuain after he refused to release a female referee's hand and stated "don't forget this is a man's game" during an MLS Next Pro match. Higuain, brother of former Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain, received a red card and a two-match suspension for the incident.

General manager Issa Tall confirmed the dismissal, stating the club's leadership standards were not met following conversations and assessment over the past month. The decision reflects the organization's commitment to maintaining a respectful environment for players and staff.

The Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) criticized the league's disciplinary response as inadequate, describing Higuain's actions as "two deliberate acts of physical abuse and sexism." The union emphasized that the coach squeezed the official's hand despite three requests to stop and delivered a demeaning, sexist remark. The PSRA asserted that female officials deserve the same respect, dignity, and safe working conditions as all officials, noting their proven excellence on the world stage.