World Cup referee dies aged 38, weeks after being axed when he was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault of a teenage boy in the UK
Top Dutch football referee Rob Dieperink has died, aged 38, weeks after he was dropped from the World Cup over a sexual assault arrest in the UK.
The Dutch Football Association today released a statement confirming Dieperink’s passing, saying it was ‘shocked and deeply saddened’ by the news.
Police are reportedly conducting an ‘investigation following a deceased person’ in the street where Dieperink lived. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
Dieperink was due to referee at this summer’s World Cup but was ultimately left at home by FIFA. That came after he was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a teenage boy in a case that was ultimately dismissed.
‘FIFA can confirm that Rob Dieperink has been removed from the list of FIFA World Cup match officials,’ a statement said. The referee said he was ‘very sad to have been wrongly accused’ and he was ‘disappointed’ to miss the World Cup.
He was accused of unwanted touching and trying to entice the boy to his hotel room before Crystal Palace‘s UEFA Conference League game against Fiorentina in April, which he had flown in to officiate.
The cause of death has not yet been disclosed for Rob Dieperink, a top Dutch football referee
He had left for the midweek game and was arrested in front of other UEFA officials when he returned.
Today, the Dutch FA statement read: ‘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. We wish them much strength and support in coping with this great loss.’
Dieperink was said to be ‘tremendously impacted’ by the aftermath of his arrest. The Netherlands manager of refereeing affairs Raymond van Meenen had said: ‘He is doing reasonably well now, and we want to provide him with optimal support throughout the entire process. Everything is geared towards deploying him back on the field and as a VAR after the summer.’
Suggesting that Dieperink could face abuse from fans in the new season, Van Meenen added: ‘Naturally, we are working on what could happen, but he is very capable of handling that in a good way. That is also part of the selection process, how someone deals with mass chants.’
The case against Dieperink was dropped due to a lack of evidence.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘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.’
Speaking to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Dieperink said: ‘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 (Dutch FA).
‘The allegations were refuted and the case was dismissed within two weeks after an adequate and thorough investigation by the police.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino and chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina (top right) watch the World Cup match between the USA and Belgium together
‘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.’
Dieperink first started refereeing in the Netherlands’ top division, the Eredivisie, in 2017. He was on VAR duty at the 2024 European Championship and has been internationally recognised as a top referee.
On Saturday he refereed a friendly between top-flight Dutch team Go Ahead Eagles and the Cypriot side Apollon FC. Apollon won 3-0. Dieperink was due to referee again in the Eredivisie this season.
French referee Willy Delajod replaced Dieperink at the World Cup and was among the VAR officials involved in Argentina’s controversial win over Egypt in the last-16.
Egypt called for a FIFA investigation over the manner of their exit, with fingers firmly pointed at the team of French referees. Egypt winger Mostafa Ziko said: ‘This tournament has been fixed,’ while coach Hossam Hassan said: ‘This match was rigged, and the whole world saw it.’
FIFA’s chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina responded by stating that ‘nobody can question the integrity’ of the refereeing and ‘unfounded allegations have no place in our sport’.
