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For more than a decade, Rob Dieperink quietly built a career in football by making decisions that rarely drew attention. The Dutch referee worked his way through the country's domestic leagues before earning appointments at some of the biggest competitions in world football. His steady rise eventually led to one of the greatest honours for any match official: selection for the FIFA World Cup .


But the final months of his life took an unexpected turn. Earlier this year, Dieperink lost his place on FIFA 's list of officials for the 2026 World Cup after becoming the subject of a police investigation in the United Kingdom. The investigation was later closed because authorities found insufficient evidence to proceed, and no charges were filed. Weeks later, the football world was left in shock when the Royal Dutch Football Association ( KNVB ) announced that Dieperink had died at the age of 38. The cause of his death has not been made public.


His passing has prompted tributes from across the football community while also leaving many supporters asking the same question: what happened to Rob Dieperink?


Dutch football mourns the death of Rob DieperinkThe football community was left in shock after the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) confirmed that Rob Dieperink had died at the age of 38.


In a statement, the KNVB said it was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the passing of the experienced referee. The association described Dieperink as a highly respected official with international experience and remembered him as a valued colleague. It also extended its condolences to his family, friends and everyone who knew him.

FIFA also paid tribute following the announcement. The world governing body offered its sympathies to Dieperink's family, friends and the KNVB, saying it had learned of his death with great sadness. No official cause of death has been announced. Neither the KNVB nor Dieperink's family has shared further details about the circumstances surrounding his passing.

Dieperink's death came just weeks after he was removed from FIFA's list of officials for the 2026 World Cup. His appointment had been withdrawn following a police investigation in the United Kingdom, which was later closed for lack of sufficient evidence. No charges were filed against the Dutch referee.


Rob Dieperink's rise from Dutch football to the international stage
Long before he became known to football fans around the world, Dieperink was building his reputation one match at a time. His professional refereeing journey began during the 2011-12 season in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football. Like many officials, he spent years working his way through domestic competitions, gradually earning the trust needed to officiate bigger fixtures.


That patience paid off in November 2017 when he made his Eredivisie debut. It marked an important milestone and confirmed his place among the Netherlands' top referees. As video technology became a bigger part of modern football, Dieperink also developed into a respected Video Assistant Referee. His calm decision-making and attention to detail earned him recognition beyond Dutch football, leading to appointments in major international competitions.

His growing reputation was rewarded when he joined FIFA's list of international officials. From there, his career continued to gather momentum.

Dieperink worked as a VAR during UEFA Euro 2024 before joining the officiating team at the Paris Olympic Games later that year. He also served as assistant VAR in the UEFA Europa League final between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen before being appointed VAR for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in Qatar. By the start of 2026, he had officiated 284 professional matches and appeared to be entering the biggest chapter of his career. His selection for the FIFA World Cup was seen as recognition for years of steady progress and consistent performances on some of football's biggest stages.


Major appointments during Rob Dieperink's refereeing career



For Dieperink, a World Cup appointment represented the pinnacle of a career that had been built patiently over more than a decade. However, before the tournament could begin, events off the football pitch changed the course of that journey and made it one of the biggest stories of his career.


Why was Rob Dieperink removed from the FIFA World Cup officials' list?
Rob Dieperink appeared to have reached the biggest milestone of his career when FIFA selected him as one of the Video Assistant Referees for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For a match official, working at football's biggest tournament is often seen as the highest honour after years of officiating domestic and international fixtures.

That opportunity, however, came to an unexpected end in April 2026. Dieperink had travelled to England to work as the VAR during Crystal Palace's UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final first-leg victory over Fiorentina. Following the match, London's Metropolitan Police arrested him after receiving a report of an alleged sexual assault involving a teenage boy.


The investigation attracted widespread attention because of Dieperink's recent World Cup appointment. Police later reviewed CCTV footage, digital devices and other available evidence before concluding that there was insufficient evidence to continue the case. The investigation was closed without any charges being filed. Despite that outcome, FIFA decided to remove Dieperink from its list of officials for the 2026 World Cup. The decision meant the tournament, which had seemed like the crowning moment of his career, would go ahead without him.


Rob Dieperink insisted he had been wrongly accused
After losing his World Cup appointment, Dieperink publicly addressed the situation in an interview with Dutch newspaper “De Telegraaf”. He said the allegations had turned his life upside down and maintained that he had been "wrongly accused." Dieperink also said he had fully cooperated with investigators from the very beginning and had been transparent with FIFA, UEFA and the KNVB throughout the process.

Although he accepted FIFA's decision, he admitted it was difficult to come to terms with missing the biggest tournament of his career. He also thanked the Dutch football association for standing by him during the investigation, saying he appreciated the support he had received while the case was being examined.

The police investigation ended without charges, but the World Cup opportunity he had worked towards for years did not return.

Rob Dieperink remembered for his contribution to football

Although the final months of his career were marked by unexpected challenges, many within football chose to remember Rob Dieperink for the years he spent officiating at the highest level of the game. The KNVB described him as a referee who earned respect through his professionalism and international experience. In its tribute, the Dutch football association said the sport had lost "a highly regarded referee with international experience" and, above all, "a wonderful colleague."


FIFA also honoured Dieperink following the news of his death, extending its condolences to his family, friends and the KNVB. The governing body acknowledged his contribution to football and said it had learned of his passing with great sadness.


Dieperink's career spanned more than a decade and included appointments in the Eredivisie, UEFA Euro 2024, the Paris Olympic Games, the UEFA Europa League final and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. Those assignments reflected the trust placed in him by Dutch football, UEFA and FIFA, and remain an important part of the legacy he leaves behind. Those assignments reflected the confidence that Dutch football, UEFA and FIFA had placed in his abilities over the years. His selection for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was another significant milestone, even though he ultimately did not officiate at the tournament.

With the cause of his death still undisclosed, many questions remain unanswered. What is certain, however, is that Rob Dieperink devoted much of his professional life to football, officiating hundreds of matches and reaching levels that few referees achieve.