Dutch football referee Rob Dieperink has died at the age of 38, the Dutch Football Association has confirmed. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
According to media reports, Dieperink had been selected to officiate at this year’s FIFA World Cup. However, FIFA removed him from the list of World Cup referees after he was arrested in the United Kingdom over allegations of sexually assaulting a young boy.
Following a police investigation, authorities found insufficient evidence to support the allegations. The case was subsequently dropped, and no further legal action was taken against him.
Dieperink was regarded as one of Europe’s experienced football referees and had officiated in numerous high-profile domestic and international competitions.
News of his sudden death prompted an outpouring of tributes from the Dutch football community and sports figures, who expressed their deep sorrow and praised his contributions to the game.
Dieperink consistently denied the allegations against him, describing them as baseless. He said he had fully cooperated with the police, FIFA, UEFA, and the Dutch Football Association throughout the investigation. He also expressed his disappointment at missing the opportunity to officiate at the World Cup.
He began his refereeing career in the Dutch Eredivisie in 2017 and quickly established himself as one of the country’s leading officials.
In addition to refereeing in the Eredivisie until his death, Dieperink also served as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) at the 2024 UEFA European Championship.
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