The Crew dropped a bombshell, canning former star player Federico Higuain from his coaching gig with Crew 2. This seismic move came on the heels of explosive allegations from an officials’ union, detailing how Higuain allegedly grabbed and insulted a female official during a match. Talk about a brutal turn of events.
The Details From the Complaint Are Wild
The Professional Soccer Referees Association, or PRSA, really laid out the shocking details in a complaint made public only a few days ago, on September 20. Can you believe this? The incident itself apparently went down way back on August 23, during a game against Huntsville City FC. Higuain is specifically accused of a truly baffling act: squeezing a female official’s hand and, get this, refusing to let go! She reportedly told him to stop not once, not twice, but *three separate times*, and he still wouldn’t release her. And as if that wasn’t enough, he’s also alleged to have spat out the truly demeaning and frankly, unacceptable words to the official: “Don’t forget, this is a man’s game.” The PRSA’s statement didn’t mince words, rightly slamming that comment as “demeaning” and “sexist.” Seriously, in this day and age? It’s just wild.
The Club’s Unwavering Stance
Now, MLS NEXT Pro actually jumped on this quickly, investigating the whole messy situation. That investigation led to Higuain getting a two-game suspension. Here’s where it gets interesting: he’d already served those games and was back on the sidelines, coaching his team. So, you’d think maybe the club was moving past it, right? Wrong. The Crew had clearly been digging deeper. General manager Issa Tall issued a statement that absolutely clarified the club’s position, stating bluntly, “We determined it’s in the best interest of our Club, players and support staff to dismiss Federico Higuaín from his responsibilities.” Tall pulled back the curtain a bit more, explaining that after “conversations this week and further assessing the past month,” the club felt their “standards of what’s expected from a leader for one of our teams have not been met.” This isn’t just a minor disciplinary action. This is a complete dismissal, a termination after he thought he was in the clear. What a statement from the Crew, making it clear where they stand on such behavior.
This whole developing story is a wild one, no doubt about it. But the Crew’s move here sends an undeniable message to absolutely everyone in their organization about the kind of leadership and conduct they expect. It’s a firm line in the sand. What this means for Crew 2 moving forward, and for Higuain’s future in the sport, is anyone’s guess. But for now, the club has made its stance unequivocally clear.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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