The Professional Soccer Referees Association has come out strongly against MLS NEXT Pro after what it believes was a shortened suspension of a head coach after an incident with a female referee.
In a statement posted on social media on Sunday, the PSRA disclosed that an unnamed male MLS NEXT Pro coach was suspended for forcefully shaking the hand of the official and telling her that soccer was a man’s sport.
“During a recent MLS NEXT Pro match, a male head coach committed two deliberate acts of physical abuse and sexism against a female official — squeezing her hand and refusing to let go after being told to stop three times,” the statement said. “This physical intimidation was compounded by a demeaning, sexist remark to the official: ‘Don’t forget, this is a man’s game.'”
Multiple reports indicate that the coach in question is Federico Higuaín of Columbus Crew 2, the second-tier affiliate for MLS’s Columbus Crew. A statement from the Crew shared with multiple outlets appears to confirm that Higuaín was the coach involved.
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PSRA, a labor union that represents North American referees in the MLS, the NWSL and the USL, alleged that the unnamed coach was suspended two games after an investigation from MLS NEXT Pro. However, U.S. Soccer guidelines say that the coach’s “forceful grab” should have resulted in a three-game suspension at minimum, the PSRA argued.
“The League’s response falls drastically short of the right message to the participants, the referees, and the public. It needs to be reevaluated,” the association said. “Women make every level of this game better. They should not have to endure intimidation or degrading comments to prove it. Our female officials and proven their excellence on the world stage. They deserve the same respect, dignity, and safe working environment as every other official.”
Per ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle, the incident with Higuaín occurred after Crew 2’s loss to Huntsville City FC on Aug. 23. Multiple reports indicate that Higuaín was suspended for Crew 2’s games on Aug. 30 and Sept. 4, though his suspension was not publicly announced.
In a statement shared with multiple outlets, MLS NEXT Pro said that it “immediately investigated the reported incident” and determined that the coach’s behavior “warranted additional discipline beyond the red card” issued.
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In addition to his two-game suspension, Higuaín has been required to take a “multi-session restorative practice” training. MLS NEXT Pro said that it is “confident” in the training, saying that it was created “to support the League’s efforts to foster understanding, accountability, respect, and the restoration of relationships across the League.” Higuaín has started the training but has not yet finished it, per Carlisle.
Crew 2, like the rest of the MLS NEXT Pro teams, is the second-tier affiliate of MLS’s Columbus Crew. In a statement sent to multiple outlets, the Crew said that team “actively collaborated” with the league throughout the investigation and “fully accepted” Higuaín’s additional discipline.
“Our Club is dedicated to growing the game by creating environments where everyone is welcome and supported on and off the pitch, which is founded upon our values of respect, inclusivity and prioritizing people and culture first,” the Crew wrote. “We condemn any action or notion that contradicts our mission of uniting and uplifting all communities and genders through the global game.
On Monday, multiple female referees posted photos of themselves on Instagram with the message “We Belong,” in apparent reference to the incident. Among the more prominent names to post the message was MLS referee Tori Penso, who this summer became the first American woman to officiate at the FIFA World Cup.
Higuaín, who is from Argentina, played for Columbus from 2012 to 2019. The 41-year-old coach spent time as the head coach of Inter Miami II before joining Crew 2 in 2025.
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