Story by
Columbus Crew Sacks Coach Higuain After Sexist Remarks To Referee
- Story by
- Columbus Crew Sacks Coach Higuain After Sexist Remarks To Referee
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Coach Fired for Disrespecting Women
The Columbus Crew has fired its reserve team coach after he refused to let go of a female referee's hand. Federico Higuain told the official to remember that soccer is a man's game. This incident happened during an MLS Next Pro match against Huntsville City. The club acted fast to remove him from his job. General manager Issa Tall said the move protects the club's values. The decision came two days after the referees' union complained about the league's slow response.
Advertisement
Higuain spent eight years playing for the first team before taking this coaching role. He was a star player who finished fourth on the club's all-time scoring chart. But his behavior crossed a line that the team could not ignore. The Professional Soccer Referees Association called the act physical abuse. They said he squeezed her hand and ignored warnings to stop three times. The union also noted his sexist comment was a deliberate act of intimidation.
Union Demands Better Standards
The referees' group said the initial two-game ban was not enough. Two deliberate acts of physical abuse and sexism against a female official by a male head coach were alleged by them. Their statement made it clear that women should not have to endure such treatment. "Women make every level of this game better," the union wrote, according to Yahoo Sports . Intimidation or degrading comments should not be endured by them to prove it.
Supporters of the Crew 2 team also spoke out. They said Higuain should have no connection to the club anymore. The union demanded that female officials get the same respect as everyone else. They deserve a safe working environment. The club agreed with this view. Issa Tall stated that the club's standards for a leader were not met. "After conversations this week and further assessing the past month, our club's standards of what's expected from a leader for one of our teams have not been met," Tall said, according to Yahoo Sports .
Advertisement
This story hits home for many American families. Parents watch their daughters play sports and want them to be treated with dignity. When a coach uses his power to intimidate a woman, it sends a terrible message. It tells girls that their place in the game is not secure. It tells boys that disrespect is acceptable if you are in charge. That is not the kind of leadership we want in our communities.
Traditional values demand that we treat others with respect. We do not need to wait for a law to tell us right from wrong. Grabbing someone's hand against their will is wrong. Making sexist comments is wrong. The Crew made the right call by firing Higuain. They showed that their team culture matters more than any player's past glory. This is a lesson for all coaches and parents. You can be a great player and still be a bad person. Character counts more than stats.
The league needs to ensure these rules are followed everywhere. A two-match suspension was too light for such bad behavior. The union was right to push for more. Now the club has stepped up. They determined it's in the best interest of the club to dismiss Federico Higuain from his responsibilities. This sets a high bar for future conduct. It shows that abuse and sexism will not be tolerated.
The Crew 2 team will start their playoff games in October. They finished fourth in the Eastern Conference.
