FIFA referee Rob Dieperink has died at the age of 38, just weeks after being removed from officiating duties at the 2026 World Cup. The Dutch Eredivisie official was arrested in April by the Metropolitan Police over an allegation of sexual assault against an underage boy in London, but the case was subsequently dropped. Dutch police are now investigating his death, the cause of which remains unknown.
Dutch FA Reacts with Shock
The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) expressed profound sorrow in a statement: "We are shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of referee Rob Dieperink. With Rob, the refereeing community loses a highly valued referee with international experience, but above all, a fine and dedicated colleague. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and everyone who held him dear."
Allegation and Dropped Case
Dieperink had been selected as a video assistant referee for the 2026 World Cup, working alongside fellow Dutch official Danny Makkellie. However, after his arrest following an alleged incident at a London hotel after Crystal Palace's 3-0 win over Fiorentina, FIFA stood him down. The Metropolitan Police confirmed to The Athletic in May that the case had been closed because "the evidential threshold had not been met" and "no further action" would be taken.
In a statement to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Dieperink voiced his disappointment: "It makes me very sad that I have been wrongly accused. I fully cooperated with the police investigation and also immediately gave full openness to FIFA, UEFA and the KNVB. The allegations were refuted and the case was dismissed within two weeks after an adequate and thorough investigation by the police. I am grateful for the support I have received from the KNVB and the way they have dealt with this case. It is a pity that FIFA has decided not to appoint me for the World Cup, I am of course disappointed about that."
KNVB Backed Official
The KNVB publicly supported Dieperink during the investigation. In a statement published by The Athletic, the association said: "We stand for a safe and honest football culture at all levels and always take reports of unwanted behaviour seriously. Obviously, we think that a Dutch referee should be of unquestionable behaviour, but we also think it is important that he gets the chance to tell his story and not be wrongly accused. In this specific case, the police in the United Kingdom have investigated and closed the case. Rob Dieperink has cooperated fully and given openness to the KNVB from the very beginning, and based on all available information, we see no reason not to appoint him for matches in the Dutch league."
Career Highlights
Dieperink began refereeing in the Eredivisie in 2017 and later moved into international officiating as a video assistant, serving during the European Championships in Germany in 2024. He officiated 84 Eredivisie matches in total, with his final game being PEC Zwolle's 1-0 victory over Heracles Almelo on May 3, 2026.
