Columbus Crew 2 Fires Federico Higuain After He Refused to Let Go of a Referee's Hand

One image was enough to light the fuse: a coach who wouldn't let go of a referee's hand after the final whistle, even though she asked him three times to release it. That gesture, paired with an out of line comment, ended up costing Federico Higuain his job. Columbus Crew 2 announced his firing "for cause," effective immediately, just days after MLS NEXT Pro suspended him for improper conduct toward a match official.

It all goes back to August 23, when Higuain refused to let go of the referee's hand during the postgame handshake. It wasn't just the physical insistence: the 41 year old coach capped off the moment with a remark that left no doubt about the sexist tone of the episode, telling her, "Don't forget this is a man's game." The reaction was immediate, and he was shown a red card on the spot.

The league's initial punishment was a two game suspension, though a source who spoke with ESPN said it effectively amounted to just one additional game on top of the ejection, since league rules allow the red card itself to count toward the total penalty. He was also required to take part in a restorative training program. A spokesperson for MLS NEXT Pro confirmed these details but could not explain why Higuain's conduct was not classified as "forcible touching."

That phrase was exactly what set off the public controversy. The Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA), the union representing referees in MLS and the USL, brought the issue into the open over the weekend. Without naming Higuain directly, the union made its frustration with the league's response clear:

The league's response falls drastically short of the correct message to send to participants, referees and the public. It needs to be reevaluated.Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA)

ESPN later confirmed that the coach referenced in that statement, though not named, was in fact Higuain. That's when things started to shift. The Crew, which had initially limited its response to saying it had "actively cooperated" with MLS NEXT Pro and accepted the discipline handed down, ultimately decided to act on its own.

According to sources close to the decision, the club was not satisfied with how Higuain handled the aftermath of the incident. They point to a "lack of contrition," his refusal to publicly apologize to the referee, and an overall absence of accountability on his part. Adding to the pressure were organized supporters' groups, including Nordecke and CapyBrava, who took to social media to demand the coach's removal.

Club general manager Issa Tall explained the decision in an official statement:

We determined that it is in the best interest of our club, our players and our staff to part ways with Federico Higuain. After conversations this week and reflecting on the past month, the standards our club requires of a leader for one of our teams were not met.Issa Tall

Higuain, who had his best years as a player wearing the Crew jersey over eight seasons, learned of the decision on a Tuesday afternoon, according to one of the sources. Now, heading into the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro playoffs, the Crew 2 coaching staff will take on additional responsibilities while the club searches for a permanent coach for its reserve side.

For its part, MLS NEXT Pro defended the process it followed after the incident, saying it investigated immediately and that its restorative practices program is designed to foster "understanding, accountability, respect and the restoration of relationships" within the league. Confidence in that approach, the league said, remains intact. What is no longer intact is Higuain's job as head of the Crew's second team.