Higuaín, the former Columbus player and brother of ex-Real Madrid and Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuaín, was removed as head coach of Crew 2 after the club reviewed his conduct following a match against Huntsville City FC on August 23.
The former midfielder had initially been sent off and given a two-match suspension over the incident.
During the post-match handshake, Higuaín was accused of squeezing the female referee’s hand and refusing to release it after she had asked him to stop three times. He also made a sexist remark towards the official.
The Professional Soccer Referees Association had criticised the initial suspension, arguing that the punishment did not adequately reflect the conduct towards the referee.
Higuaín returned to the touchline after serving the suspension and completing part of a required restorative practices process before Columbus decided to terminate his contract.
The club's decision came after further assessment of the incident and Higuaín's conduct.
Crew general manager Issa Tall said the club determined that Higuaín no longer met its leadership standards.
Crew 2's technical staff will take charge during the upcoming MLS NEXT Pro playoffs while Columbus searches for a permanent replacement.
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