• Club coach also allegedly grabbed female official’s hand

• Referees’ union criticises MLS’s two-match ban

The Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew have sacked their reserve-team coach after he allegedly grabbed a female referee’s hand and told her: “Don’t forget this is a man’s game.” Federico Higuaín was sent off for the incident, which occurred during an MLS Next Pro league match, and was later given a two-match ban.

Columbus Crew’s general manager, Issa Tall, said in a statement: “We determined it’s in the best interest of our club, players and support staff to dismiss Federico Higuaín from his responsibilities. 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.”