Rob Dieperink, a leading Dutch referee, was found dead on April 23, 2024, after a brief period of professional activity.
The cause of death has not been released.
Dieperink had been arrested on April 9 in his London hotel room on suspicion of sexual assault involving a teenage boy. Police investigations concluded without sufficient evidence, and no charges were filed.
At the time of his arrest, he was serving as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for Crystal Palace’s UEFA Conference League match against Fiorentina.
Despite being listed among FIFA’s VAR officials for the 2026 World Cup in North America, Dieperink was removed from the roster a month before the tournament began.
In a May interview, Dieperink expressed disappointment over the allegations and his removal from the World Cup program, emphasizing his full cooperation with police and transparency with football governing bodies.
He highlighted that the investigation cleared him within two weeks and thanked the Dutch football association for its support.
Dieperink’s career included officiating Eredivisie matches since 2017, VAR duties at Euro 2024, and high‑profile fixtures such as the 2024 Europa League final.
Just two days before his death, he refereed a pre‑season friendly between Go Ahead Eagles and Apollon.
