Columbus Crew fires coach Federico Higuain for sexist remark to female referee in United States

In the United States, Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew fired reserve team coach Federico Higuain on September 22, 2026, after he was accused of making a sexist remark to a female referee during an MLS NEXT Pro match on August 23. Higuain allegedly squeezed the referee's hand and said, "Don't forget, this is a man's game." The Professional Soccer Referees Association criticized the initial two-match suspension as insufficient. Crew general manager Issa Tall said the club's standards were not met.