Columbus Crew Dismiss Federico Higuaín as Crew 2 Head Coach Following Referee Incident

Columbus, OH – The Columbus Crew dismissed Federico Higuaín as Crew 2 head coach on Tuesday, effective immediately and for cause.

The decision followed criticism from the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) and Crew supporters over an incident involving match official Marie Durr.

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 23: Columbus Crew 2 Federico Higuain during a game between Columbus Crew 2 and New England Revolution II at Gillette Stadium on April 23, 2025, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Crew General Manager Issa Tall said the club reached its decision after further conversations and an assessment of Higuaín’s conduct over the past month.

“We determined it’s in the best interest of our Club, players and support staff to dismiss Federico Higuaín from his responsibilities,” Tall said. “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.”

In a statement to Caleb Pongratz of Prost International and Spotrac following Higuaín’s dismissal, PSRA President Peter Manikowski emphasized accountability and the support shown to referees.

“Responsibility is important. Accountability is paramount. But what is most crucial is the conversation that has come out of this: Respect for the refs is respect for the game. To see the support that has been demonstrated to our refs has been uplifting to all those who live the game,” Manikowski said.

The incident occurred after Crew 2’s Aug. 23 match against Huntsville City FC. According to the PSRA, Higuaín squeezed Durr’s hand during a post-match interaction and refused to release his grip despite being told three times to stop. The association also alleged that he told her, “Don’t forget that this is a man’s game.”

I’m told Columbus Crew 2 head coach Federico Higuaín is the coach at the center of the incident referenced in today’s PSRA statement.

The incident occurred during Crew 2’s match against Huntsville City FC on Aug. 23.

Higuaín subsequently served a two-match suspension, missing… https://t.co/Y7t07dnDPy

— Caleb Pongratz (@CalebPongratz10) September 20, 2026

The PSRA did not identify the coach in its initial public statement. This reporter, Caleb Pongratz of Prost International and Spotrac, first identified Higuaín was the coach involved, citing multiple sources. Manikowski subsequently confirmed Higuaín’s identity to Pongratz on Sunday.

MLS NEXT Pro investigated the incident and suspended Higuaín for two matches. The league also required him to take part in a multi-session restorative practices process. Sources said he had begun, but had not completed, that process before his dismissal.

Higuaín missed Crew 2’s matches against Chicago Fire II on Aug. 30 and Philadelphia Union II on Sept. 4 before returning to the sideline.

The PSRA later criticized the league’s response. The association said U.S. Soccer policy calls for a minimum three-game suspension for a “forceful grab” and a minimum three-game suspension for acts of discrimination. It urged MLS NEXT Pro to reevaluate its discipline.

“The League’s response falls drastically short of the right message to the participants, the referees, and the public,” the PSRA said.

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – AUGUST 10: Columbus Crew 2 Federico Higuain takes a moment to prepare for game between Columbus Crew 2 and New England Revolution II at Gillette Stadium on August 10, 2025, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

Speaking with Prost International and Spotrac on Sunday, Manikowski said the association believed the incident warranted a stronger response because of the intimidation directed at a match official.

“Intimidation when it comes to participants and match officials can take many different forms — throwing the ball, kicking, punching, things like that,” Manikowski said. “This was such an act of intimidation that we felt it required something more.”

He said the PSRA disagreed with the length of the suspension, rather than the decision to impose discipline.

“The decisionmakers are their own people, and they make their own decisions. We simply disagree with them,” he said.

Manikowski also cited the expectation in the MLS NEXT Pro manual that coaches and other staff members be held to a higher standard of conduct than players.

“Players’ heart rates are elevated when they’re on the field and emotions are running high,” Manikowski said. “Staff members, however, should be held to that higher standard.”

He said the gap between the discipline imposed and what the PSRA believed was warranted prompted the association to speak publicly. It also wanted to draw attention to how leagues respond to intimidation and abuse of match officials.

“When the discipline came short of what we believed should have occurred, there was a disconnect,” he said. “That’s what led to the public statement.”

The Crew initially said it had collaborated with MLS NEXT Pro during the review and accepted the league’s additional discipline. The club also condemned conduct that conflicted with its stated values of respect and inclusivity.

Our position regarding the PSRA statement on Head Coach Higuaín’s actions: #CapyCrew | #Crew96

— CapyBrava (@capybrava.bsky.social) 2026-09-20T22:42:22.973Z

After serving his suspension, Higuaín returned to coach Crew 2 against Toronto FC II, New England Revolution II and Carolina Core. Supporter groups, including CapyBrava and the Nordecke, called for his removal.

CapyBrava said the conduct described by the PSRA fell short of the standards expected of someone representing the club.

Sources familiar with the Crew’s decision told Pongratz that club officials were dissatisfied with Higuaín’s response to the incident.

They described a “lack of remorse and accountability” and said he declined to issue a public apology to Durr.

The Crew did not address those claims in its dismissal statement.

Asked Sunday about Durr’s well-being and whether the incident had affected her willingness or ability to continue officiating, the PSRA declined to comment.

Columbus Crew Logo.

Higuaín’s dismissal leaves Crew 2 without a head coach as the club prepares for the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro playoffs. The Crew said its existing technical staff will take on additional responsibilities during the postseason while it searches for a permanent replacement.