Federico Higuaín, 41, brother of Gonzalo “Pipita” Higuaín, was coaching Columbus Crew 2 when he was fired for a sexist remark directed at a female referee.
After a confusing handshake. The referee asked him to let go. He refused three times and capped it with the phrase: “Don’t forget, this is a man’s game”.
It was August 23, in a match against Huntsville City. The club suspended him for only two matches. The referees’ union called that sanction “drastically insufficient”.
A month later, on September 23, Columbus Crew CEO Issa Tall confirmed what should have happened from day one: Higuaín is no longer the club’s coach.