Referees' Union Says MLS NEXT Pro Went Too Easy on Higuain Over Sexist Remark to Female Official

A handshake that lasted too long and a comment that went too far have sparked a controversy that reaches well beyond a single MLS NEXT Pro match. The Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA), the union representing officials in MLS and USL, came out swinging at the league over how it handled an incident involving a head coach and a female match official.

The PSRA did not name names in its statement, but it referred to "two deliberate acts of physical abuse and sexism against a female official." According to multiple sources contacted by ESPN, the coach in question is Federico Higuain, current manager of Columbus Crew 2.

So what happened? According to the union, the incident took place during the postgame handshake line on August 23 following the match between Crew 2 and Huntsville City FC. Higuain gripped the referee's hand "and refused to let go after being asked to do so on three occasions." It didn't end there: the PSRA alleged that this act of physical intimidation was accompanied by a remark it described as sexist and demeaning toward the official: "Don't forget this is a man's game." Higuain was sent off on the spot for the incident.

A punishment that hasn't sat well with the referees' union

MLS NEXT Pro opened an investigation and ultimately handed Higuain a two game suspension along with a mandatory restorative training program. A source indicated he has already served the suspension, though the training component has not yet been completed.

For the PSRA, that's exactly the problem: the punishment came up short. The union pointed out that U.S. Soccer policy sets a minimum three game suspension for "forcible grabbing," and that acts of discrimination likewise carry a minimum three game penalty. In a social media post, the PSRA did not mince words: "The league's response falls drastically short of sending the right message to participants, referees and the public. It needs to be reevaluated."

MLS NEXT Pro defended its process in a statement sent to ESPN, saying it investigated the incident between the coach and the official "immediately" and determined that the conduct violated league policy and warranted discipline beyond the red card. The league said it stands behind its restorative approach and the outcomes of that process.

Columbus Crew also issued a statement, saying the club actively cooperated with MLS NEXT Pro throughout the review and fully accepted the additional discipline:

Our club is dedicated to growing the game by creating environments where everyone is welcomed and supported both on and off the field, something rooted in our values of respect, inclusion and prioritizing people and culture. We condemn any actions or ideas that run counter to our mission of uniting and elevating all communities and genders through the global game.Columbus Crew

A source familiar with the league's thinking explained that MLS NEXT Pro views the minimums set out in U.S. Soccer policy as guidance rather than a mandate. However, U.S. Soccer's policy manual, in section 202-2, is fairly explicit: any intentional act of physical violence against a match official must carry a suspension of at least six consecutive games, and professional leagues "may not set a shorter penalty" than that, though they are permitted to extend it or add fines. For referee abuse, defined as communication that includes offensive language or implies physical threat, the minimum drops to three games.

It was Caleb Pongratz of Spotrac who first reported that Higuain was the coach involved in the episode that now has the PSRA demanding answers.