Rob Dieperink Cause of Death: Referee Dies at 38 After World Cup Snub
Dutch referee Rob Dieperink tragically passed away at the age of 38, as confirmed by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB).
His sudden death comes just weeks after he was removed from the list of officials for the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The KNVB released a statement mourning his death.
"We are shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of referee Rob Dieperink. With Rob, the refereeing community loses a highly valued referee with international experience, but above all, a fine and dedicated colleague. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and everyone who held him dear. We wish them much strength and support in coping with this great loss."
Dieperink primarily officiated matches in the Netherlands and across Europe and specialized as an elite Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Along with UEFA Champions League matches, he notably served as the VAR for the 2024 Europa League final between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen.
Why Was Dieperink Removed From the World Cup Officials List?
The Dutch referee, who was originally included on FIFA's list of World Cup officials, was removed after reports of his arrest by the Metropolitan Police.
The BBC reported that the arrest followed an allegation of sexual assault involving a teenage boy. The case was ultimately dropped after a two-week investigation found insufficient evidence.
Earlier, Dieperink expressed his sadness over the matter.
"It saddens me greatly that I have been wrongly accused," he said.
"From the beginning, I have fully cooperated in the police investigation and also immediately gave full openness to Fifa, Uefa and the KNVB."
Despite his omission from the World Cup, the KNVB continued to support him and allowed him to officiate domestic league matches, noting that there was no reason to suspend him from refereeing in the Netherlands.
Dieperink also expressed his gratitude to the association.
"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."
How Did Dieperink Die?
His cause of death has not been disclosed. However, Dutch police have launched an investigation following the discovery of his body.
Dieperink had officiated in the Dutch Eredivisie since 2017 and also served as a VAR official at UEFA Euro 2024.
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This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 11:24 AM.