Federico Higuain’s first season in coaching has ended abruptly at Columbus Crew 2, where the former Napoli, Juventus and AC Milan forward’s brother was dismissed after an incident involving a female match official.
Columbus Crew 2 general manager Issa Tall said the decision followed discussions held during the week and a wider review of events over the previous month. The club concluded that the standards expected of a leader within the organisation had not been met.
The 41-year-old Argentine had been in charge of the Crew’s reserve side in MLS Next Pro after joining the coaching staff last year. He had previously spent eight seasons as a Columbus player, from 2012 until 2020, becoming a familiar figure at the club long before moving into the technical area.
The dismissal came in the wake of an exchange in recent days for which Higuain had already been sent off and handed a two-match suspension. During the confrontation, he told the referee: “Do not forget this is a men’s sport,” and declined to shake her hand.
The Professional Soccer Referees Association, which represents officials working in MLS and USL, subsequently described a more serious physical element to the incident. It said that Higuain held the official’s hand and did not release it despite being told three times to stop. The union said the conduct combined physical intimidation with a sexist and degrading remark.
While its statement did not name Higuain, the association argued that the league’s punishment was insufficient. It maintained that a forceful handshake accompanied by discriminatory language required a firmer response, adding that the disciplinary outcome did not send the appropriate signal to players, referees or supporters and should be reconsidered.
Columbus had initially said it had cooperated throughout MLS Next Pro’s review and accepted the additional sanction imposed under league policy. The club also condemned behaviour or beliefs at odds with its stated aim of bringing together and supporting communities and genders through football.
For Higuain, whose playing career included spells at Real Madrid as well as leading Italian clubs before his long Columbus chapter, the episode has brought a sharp end to his first substantial coaching assignment.
