The Dutch football community is mourning the death of international referee Rob Dieperink, who has died at the age of 38.
His passing comes only weeks after he was removed from FIFA’s list of officials for the FIFA World Cup following an arrest in the United Kingdom over allegations that were later dismissed.
The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) confirmed the news in a statement, paying tribute to one of the country’s most experienced referees. Authorities have not revealed the cause of death.
Dutch FA Pays Tribute to Experienced Official
In a statement released on Tuesday, the KNVB described Dieperink as a respected figure within football officiating and expressed condolences to his loved ones.
The association said it was “shocked and deeply saddened” by his death, describing him as a referee with significant international experience and, above all, a dedicated colleague.
It added that its thoughts were with his family, friends and everyone who knew him during what it called a difficult time.
Police Investigation Underway Following Death
Dutch newspaper AD reported that police are carrying out what has been described as an investigation following the discovery of a deceased person on the street where Dieperink lived.
Officials have not disclosed the circumstances surrounding his death, and no further details have been released publicly regarding the ongoing inquiry.
World Cup Dream Ended Before Tournament
Dieperink had originally been selected as one of FIFA’s match officials for this summer’s FIFA World Cup before being removed from the final list.
FIFA confirmed the decision in a brief statement, saying only that the Dutch referee had been withdrawn from the roster of World Cup officials.
His exclusion followed his arrest in England earlier this year, despite the criminal investigation later ending without charges.
Sexual Assault Allegation Was Later Dismissed
The incident stemmed from an allegation made after Crystal Palace’s UEFA Conference League match against Fiorentina in April, a fixture Dieperink had travelled to officiate.
He was accused of inappropriately touching a teenage boy and allegedly attempting to persuade the teenager to accompany him to his hotel room.
After returning from the match, he was arrested in front of other UEFA officials.
The Metropolitan Police later confirmed that officers conducted what it described as a thorough investigation, reviewing CCTV footage, examining digital devices and assessing all available evidence.
Following those inquiries, investigators concluded that the evidential threshold required for prosecution had not been met, resulting in no further action being taken.
Referee Maintained His Innocence
Following the conclusion of the investigation, Dieperink publicly denied the allegations, insisting he had been wrongly accused.
He said he had fully cooperated with police from the outset and had also been transparent with FIFA, UEFA and the KNVB throughout the process.
Dieperink stated that the allegations had been rejected after what he described as a thorough police investigation, while expressing gratitude for the support he received from the Dutch Football Association.
Although relieved that the case had been dismissed, he acknowledged his disappointment that FIFA chose not to reinstate him for the World Cup.
Career Overshadowed by Final Months
Before the allegations emerged, Dieperink had built a respected career as one of the Netherlands’ leading referees, regularly taking charge of domestic and international fixtures.
His final months, however, were dominated by the investigation, the loss of his World Cup appointment and the public scrutiny that followed, despite the case being dropped because of insufficient evidence.
What’s Next?
Authorities in the Netherlands have not announced the cause of Dieperink’s death, and police inquiries into the circumstances surrounding his passing remain ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Dutch football community continues to pay tribute to the referee as colleagues, friends and supporters remember his contributions to the game.
Summary
Dutch international referee Rob Dieperink has died at the age of 38, weeks after being removed from the FIFA World Cup following his arrest in the United Kingdom over allegations of sexual assault that were later dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
The KNVB has paid tribute to the respected official, while Dutch police continue investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, with no cause of death yet disclosed.
