Dutch referee found dead weeks after high-profile World Cup 2026 scandal
Rob Dieperink (Photo: KNVB)
Dutch football referee Rob Dieperink has died at the age of 38. The final months of his life were overshadowed by a high-profile scandal and a FIFA suspension, according to the BBC.
Arrest in London and FIFA suspension
In recent months, Dieperink had been under immense psychological pressure. In April, he was arrested by London police at a hotel on suspicion of sexually assaulting a teenager. British authorities later closed the criminal investigation due to insufficient evidence and filed no charges against the referee.
Dieperink consistently maintained his innocence.
"It saddens me greatly that I have been wrongly accused. From the beginning, I have fully cooperated in the police investigation and also immediately gave full openness to FIFA, UEFA, and the KNVB. It is a pity that FIFA has decided not to appoint me for the World Cup anymore, of course, I am disappointed about that," Dieperink said at the time.
Despite the case being closed, the reputational damage proved devastating. In May, FIFA officially removed the Dutch referee from the list of video assistant referees (VAR) selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The cause of the 38-year-old referee's sudden death has not yet been disclosed. The Royal Dutch Football Association has not released any details. However, Dutch media outlets, including De Telegraaf, report that police have launched an investigation and carried out forensic work near the home where Dieperink lived.
Officiated at Euro 2024 and worked until the end
Rob Dieperink was regarded as one of the Netherlands' most respected referees. He spent more than 15 years in professional football and had been officiating Eredivisie matches since 2017. Over the course of his career, he officiated 284 professional matches.
Dieperink regularly received international appointments. He served as a video assistant referee at UEFA Euro 2024 and also worked as a VAR official for the 2024 UEFA Europa Conference League final.
Despite the emotional strain caused by his removal from the 2026 World Cup officiating team, the referee continued to work. He officiated his final match just last Saturday, July 11. It was a friendly between Dutch club Go Ahead Eagles and Cyprus' Apollon.
