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.”

Higuaín, brother of the former Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuaín, is alleged to have refused to let go as he squeezed the female official’s hand after being told to stop three times at a match on 23 August. The Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) said a “forceful grab” requires a three-game ban and criticised the MLS’s response for falling “drastically short”.

The PSRA added: “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. This physical intimidation was compounded by a demeaning, sexist remark to the official: ‘Don’t forget, this is a man’s game.’

“Women make every level of this game better. They should not have to endure intimidation or degrading comments to prove it. Our female officials have proven their excellence on the world stage. They deserve the same respect, dignity, and safe working environment as every other official.”

Columbus Crew did not immediately respond to ⁠a request for comment from Higuaín. The 41-year-old attacker ​played in Argentina, ​Turkey and Mexico before ​joining Columbus Crew, where he made more than ​200 appearances.