Dutch football referee Rob Dieperink died at the age of 38 in July 2026, sources confirmed. No cause of death has been disclosed by authorities or football associations [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Dieperink had been selected as a video assistant referee (VAR) for the 2026 World Cup but was removed from FIFA's officiating panel in May 2026 following legal troubles earlier that year [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
In April 2026, Dieperink was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in London over allegations of sexual assault involving a teenage boy. The case was dropped due to lack of evidence, and Dieperink maintained his innocence throughout the investigation. "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," he said in a statement [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
His final match as a VAR official was on April 9, 2026, at the Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg between Crystal Palace and Fiorentina [1, 5]. Dieperink had officiated in the Dutch Eredivisie since 2017 and served as a VAR official at Euro 2024 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
The KNVB, the Dutch football association, expressed shock and deep sadness at Dieperink's death, calling him "a kind and dedicated colleague." They extended condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew him [1]. FIFA also released a statement expressing grief and condolences to the family and the KNVB [4, 5, 6].
Dieperink’s death marks a sudden end to the career of a respected referee whose reputation was marred in the final months of his life. The football community continues to process the loss as they await further details surrounding his passing.
