World Cup 2026: referee Rob Dieperink dies months after being dropped from tournament

A referee removed from the 2026 World Cup following a police case in Britain that was later dropped, has died.

Dutch whistleblower Rob Dieperink was selected to be a VAR official at the tournament but was taken off FIFA’s list of World Cup officials in May.

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The 38-year-old was arrested in April following a report of a sexual assault against a teenage boy, but the case was dropped because of a lack of evidence.

No cause of death has been revealed.

The Netherlands’ football association said they were “shocked and deeply saddened” by Dieperink’s death.

“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,” the Dutch football association said in a statement.

After he was dropped by FIFA, Dieperink said he had been “wrongly accused” in an interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

“It saddens me greatly that I have been wrongly accused,” Dieperink said. “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.”

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Dieperink was a VAR official at the 2024 European Championship and officiated in the Dutch league since 2017.

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