Columbus Crew sack coach Federico Higuaín for ‘man’s game’ jibe aimed at female referee

Columbus Crew has dismissed reserve team coach Federico Higuaín following an incident involving a female referee. During the match, Higuaín allegedly grabbed the official’s hand and refused to release it while remarking, "don’t forget this is a man’s game."

The incident has drawn broader scrutiny, with the referees’ union publicly criticizing Major League Soccer for initially issuing only a two-match ban prior to the club's decision to terminate the coach's employment.