{
  "id": 9223014,
  "title": "MLS coach axed for telling female ref ‘It’s a man’s game’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/mls-coach-axed-for-telling-female-ref-its-a-mans-game-9223014",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-22T22:49:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/09/23/mls-coach-axed-for-telling-female-ref-it-s-a-man-s-game"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Columbus Crew's Argentine reserve team coach, Federico Higuain, has been fired following a controversial incident involving a female referee. The Major League Soccer (MLS) club cited Higuain's sexist remarks and physical abuse towards the official as the reason for his dismissal. The Columbus Crew general manager, Issa Tall, stated that Higuain's behavior did not meet the club's standards for leadership. Higuain had already been given a red card and a two-game suspension for the incident in the MLS NEXT Pro league, but the team believed a more severe punishment was necessary. The referees' union accused Higuain of committing two deliberate acts of physical abuse and sexism against the female official, including squeezing her hand and refusing to release it after she asked him to stop multiple times. The union also criticized the league's initial two-game suspension as being too lenient and called for at least a six-game ban. The Professional Soccer Referees Association highlighted the incident, stating that Higuain's comment of \"Don't forget, this is a man's game\" was demeaning and sexist. The union emphasized that women have proven their excellence on the world stage and deserve the same respect, dignity, and safe working environment as their male counterparts.",
  "summary": "Federico Higuain had already received a red card and a two-match suspension for the incident before the team dismissed him.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "MLS coach axed for telling female ref 'It's a man's game'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/mls-coach-axed-for-telling-female-ref-its-a-mans-game",
        "published": "2026-09-22T22:28:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "MLS coach axed for telling female ref ‘It’s a man’s game’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/mls-coach-axed-for-telling-female-ref-its-a-mans-game-9226253",
        "published": "2026-09-22T22:49:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "MLS coach sacked after refusing to release female referee’s hand, calling football ‘a man’s game’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/mls-coach-sacked-after-refusing-to-release-female-referees-hand",
        "published": "2026-09-23T01:54:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}