Dutch referee Rob Dieperink dies just weeks after being dropped from World Cup
Dutch referee Rob Dieperink has died aged 38, just weeks after he was dropped from the World Cup following a police investigation in the UK.
Dieperink had been chosen to be a video assistant referee (VAR) at the tournament this summer, but in May FIFA announced he had been removed from its list of officials.
In a statement at the time, FIFA said: “FIFA can confirm that Rob Dieperink has been removed from the list of FIFA World Cup match officials.”
The move came after Dieperink was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in April on suspicion of sexually assaulting a teenage boy.
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The case was later dropped due to lack of evidence.
The Netherlands' football association, the KNVB, confirmed his death on Monday (13 July).
A statement on the KNVB website read: “We have learned with shock and deep sadness of the passing of Rob Dieperink.
“With the passing of Rob, the football world loses a valued referee with international experience, but above all, we lose a fine colleague.
“Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and everyone who held him dear. We wish them much strength and support in coping with this great loss.”
The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Speaking after he was dropped from the World Cup, Dieperink said he had been ‘wrongly accused’ and that he was ‘disappointed’ to not be taking part in the tournament.
"It saddens me greatly that I have been wrongly accused," he told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf
"From the beginning, I have fully cooperated in the police investigation and also immediately gave full openness to FIFA, UEFA and the KNVB.
"I am grateful for the support I have received from the KNVB and the way in which they have dealt with this case. It is a pity that FIFA has decided not to appoint me for the World Cup any more, of course I am disappointed about that."
Announcing that the case had been dropped earlier this year, the Met Police said in a statement: "On Thursday, 9 April, officers responded to a report of a sexual assault against a teenage boy, which occurred at an address on Wellesley Road, Croydon.
"A man in his 30s was subsequently arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.
"Officers completed a thorough investigation and reviewed all available evidence, including gathering CCTV and examining digital devices.
"Following these enquiries, they concluded that the evidential threshold had not been met. No further action will be taken."
In the aftermath of his arrest Netherland’s manager of refereeing affairs Raymond van Meenen said the organisation was offering him ‘optimal support’.
“He is doing reasonably well now, and we want to provide him with optimal support throughout the entire process,” he said.
“Everything is geared towards deploying him back on the field and as a VAR after the summer.”
The KNVB said Dieperink had been refereeing professionally since around 2011-12 and had refereed in Netherlands' top division, Eredivisie, since 2017.
He was also a VAR official at Euro 2024.
Dieperink last refereed on Saturday, for a pre-season friendly between Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles and Cypriot side Apollon.
Topics: World Cup
Claire Reid