Dutch referee Rob Dieperink found dead at 38 after World Cup removal over dropped sexual assault case
The body of Dutch football referee Rob Dieperink was discovered at his home in Borculo, weeks after FIFA excluded him from the 2026 World Cup VAR panel following a police investigation in London that was later dropped.
Death discovered in Borculo
Rob Dieperink, a 38-year-old Dutch football referee, has died. His body was found at his home in Borculo, a town roughly 160 km east of Amsterdam. The Dutch football association (KNVB) confirmed the death but did not disclose the cause. Local media, citing internal police sources, reported that the involvement of third parties has been ruled out.
We are shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of Rob Dieperink. With Rob, we lose a highly valued referee, but above all a kind and dedicated colleague.
Sexual assault allegation and arrest
The referee had been selected for the video assistant referee (VAR) panel at the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. That changed on 9 April, after he officiated the Conference League quarter-final first leg between Crystal Palace and Fiorentina in London. Metropolitan Police officers responded to a report of a sexual assault on a teenager at an address on Wellesley Road, Croydon. Dieperink, then in his late 30s, was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and detained.
Case dropped due to lack of evidence
UK police conducted what they described as a thorough investigation. Officers reviewed all available evidence, including CCTV footage and digital devices. In a statement, the Metropolitan Police concluded that the evidentiary threshold had not been met and that no further action would be taken. The case was formally dropped due to a lack of evidence; no charges were ever filed against Dieperink.
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.
World Cup exclusion and aftermath
Despite the case being dropped, FIFA removed Dieperink from the list of match officials for the 2026 tournament in May, roughly one month before the World Cup began. The governing body gave no official reason for the decision. In an interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, the referee expressed disappointment, calling the exclusion a pity and confirming he had been fully transparent with all football authorities. The KNVB continued to allow him to officiate Eredivisie matches after the episode.
- Arrested by Metropolitan Police in London on suspicion of sexual assault on a teenager after Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina.
- FIFA removes Dieperink from the list of match officials for the 2026 World Cup.
- Dieperink is found dead at his home in Borculo, Netherlands; police rule out third-party involvement.
A career in elite officiating
Dieperink had been a professional referee for over 15 years and officiated 284 matches at the professional level. He began refereeing in the Dutch Eredivisie in 2017. His international experience included serving as a VAR official at the 2024 European Championship and as an assistant referee for the 2024 Europa League final, won by Atalanta. He was also part of the officiating teams at the 2024 Olympic Games.
