Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew have dismissed
reserve-team coach Federico Higuain following an incident involving a female
referee during an MLS Next Pro match.
Higuain, the brother of former Real Madrid and
Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain, was sent off and handed a two-match
suspension after an altercation with the official.
The incident reportedly involved Higuain holding the
referee’s hand and refusing to release it after being instructed to do so. He
also made a comment stating, “Don’t forget, this is a man’s game.”
Columbus Crew general manager Issa Tall confirmed the
club’s decision to remove Higuain from his position.
“We determined it’s in the best interest of our club,
players, and support staff to dismiss Federico Higuain from his
responsibilities,” Tall said in a statement.
He added that the club’s assessment of Higuain’s
conduct showed that the standards expected of a leader had not been met.
The Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA),
however, criticised the two-match suspension, describing it as insufficient in
light of the allegations.
According to the referees’ union, the incident
involved what it described as deliberate physical contact and a sexist remark
directed at the female official.
The PSRA said female referees should be able to
perform their duties without intimidation or degrading treatment, adding that
women have demonstrated their ability to officiate at the highest levels of
football.
Higuain’s dismissal by Columbus Crew comes after the
club reviewed the incident and his conduct over the preceding weeks.
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