Dutch referee Rob Dieperink dies after being dropped from World Cup
8 reported
Dutch football referee Rob Dieperink has died weeks after being removed from officiating at the World Cup following a UK police investigation. Dieperink, 38, had been selected as a video assistant referee for this summer’s tournament but was dropped from Fifa’s list of World Cup officials in May. He was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in April after a report of a sexual assault against a teenage boy, but the case was dropped due to a lack of evidence. The Netherlands’ football association, the KNVB, expressed shock and deep sadness at his death, calling him a highly valued referee and kind colleague. His cause of death has not been disclosed. Dieperink had refereed in the Eredivisie since 2017 and served as a VAR official at Euro 2024.
What’s reported
Rob Dieperink died weeks after being dropped from the World Cup.
He was 38 years old.
He was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in April following a report of a sexual assault against a teenage boy.
The case was dropped because of a lack of evidence.
His cause of death has not been disclosed.
The KNVB said they were "shocked and deeply saddened" by his death.
Dieperink had refereed in the Eredivisie since 2017 and was a VAR official at Euro 2024.
He was the VAR for Crystal Palace’s 3-0 Europa Conference League quarter-final first-leg win over Fiorentina on 9 April.
Key figures
Rob Dieperink, Dutch football referee
KNVB, Netherlands’ football association
Metropolitan Police
Sources: BBC News
