Sports · Brief

Columbus Crew sacks reserve coach over sexist remark to referee

The MLS club dismissed Federico Higuain after an incident with a female referee during a match.

Analysis deskEditor Andersson Iyke25 September 2026, 10:20 GMT

What happened

Columbus Crew sacked reserve team coach Federico Higuain after he made a sexist remark to a female referee.1 2 3

Higuain refused to release the referee's hand and told her, 'Don't forget this is a man's game.'1 2

Columbus Crew, an MLS club, sacked their reserve team coach Federico Higuain.1 2 3
Higuain refused to release a female referee's hand.1 2 3
Higuain made sexist remarks toward the referee.1 3

None of the outlets reviewed reported Higuain's response to his dismissal.
None of the outlets reviewed reported when or in what match the incident took place.
None of the outlets reviewed reported a statement from the referee involved.

The incident involves conduct toward a female match official in a men's professional soccer league.1 2 3

Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.