A top American football coach has lost his job after making a deeply disrespectful remark to a female referee — and the football world is not letting it slide.
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Major League Soccer (MLS) club Columbus Crew have shown their reserve team coach the door after he made a sexist remark to a female referee during a match — and refused to let go of her hand while doing so.
The coach in question, Federico Higuain, found himself out of a job faster than you can say “VAR decision” after telling the female official, “Don’t forget, this is a man’s game.” As if that was not bad enough, he reportedly held onto her hand without her consent while delivering the unsolicited lecture.
Sack Letter Delivered Without Hesitation
Columbus Crew moved swiftly, terminating Higuain’s contract almost immediately after the incident came to light. The club made it clear that such behaviour has absolutely no place in their organisation — or in football generally.
In a statement, the club confirmed that the coach’s conduct was a direct violation of their values and code of conduct. No long grammar, no plenty explanation — the sack came sharp sharp.
The Football World Reacts
The incident has sparked widespread conversation across the global football community. Many fans, players, and officials have condemned the behaviour, pointing out that female referees have worked incredibly hard to earn their positions and deserve the same respect given to their male counterparts.
Women have been officiating at the highest levels of football for years now. From Stephanie Frappart refereeing at the FIFA World Cup to countless women taking charge of top-flight matches across Europe and beyond — the era of “this is a man’s game” expired a long time ago.
A Lesson for Everyone
Back home in Nigeria, conversations around women in sports officiating are also growing. Female referees are increasingly taking charge of matches at various levels, and incidents like this serve as a reminder that toxic attitudes must be challenged wherever they appear — whether in America, Europe, or right here on our home turf.
Respecting match officials — regardless of their gender — is not just about good sportsmanship. It is about basic human decency.
Federico Higuain may have thought he was defending tradition, but all he succeeded in doing was defending himself straight out of a job. The message from Columbus Crew — and from football fans everywhere — is crystal clear: respect is not optional.
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