The termination follows an initial two-match suspension handed down by the league after Higuain reportedly refused to release a female referee's hand during a post-match interaction. According to reports, the coach told the official, "Don't forget this is a man's game," during the encounter. The
Club Standards and Accountability
Columbus Crew general manager Issa Tall addressed the dismissal in a statement, emphasizing that the organization's internal standards for leadership had not been upheld. Tall noted that the club determined it was in the best interest of the players, staff, and the organization to remove Higuain from his position immediately. The decision was finalized after the club assessed the events of the past month and held follow-up discussions with the coach.
Reports indicate that Higuain was unwilling to take accountability for his actions during these internal conversations and did not offer a public apology. The Professional Soccer Referees Association had previously criticized the league's initial two-game ban as insufficient, arguing that the severity of the physical and verbal conduct warranted a much stricter penalty. In a statement, the union stressed that female officials deserve a safe working environment free from intimidation and degrading comments, highlighting that women contribute significantly to the quality of the sport at all levels.
