Rob Dieperink was found dead this Monday, reports the Dutch press, weeks after being removed by FIFA from the 2026 World Cup for being detained for alleged sexual assault against a minor under 17 in the United Kingdom.
Rob Dieperink, retired World Cup referee, dies after being detained
Rob Dieperink was found dead this Monday, reports the Dutch press, weeks after being removed by FIFA from the 2026 World Cup for being detained for alleged sexual assault against a minor under 17 in the United Kingdom....
"It was with shock and deep sadness that we learned of the death of referee Rob Dieperink. With his passing, refereeing loses a referee with valuable international experience, but, above all, we lose an esteemed colleague", says the statement from the KNVB, the Dutch football federation, cited by Voetbal International magazine.
"Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all those who were close to him. We wish them a lot of strength and courage to face this moment of enormous loss", concluded the organization.
What happened in London?
The case of the alleged aggression dates back to April and allegedly took place in a hotel in London, after Dieperink had acted as VAR for the match between Crystal Palace and Fiorentina (3-0), valid for the Conference League. The British police, however, ended up closing the investigation due to lack of evidence.
Still, FIFA decided to remove the 38-year-old referee from the World Cup games in which he would act as VAR.
Dieperink ended up defending himself against the accusations in an interview with the newspaper De Telegraaf, regretting FIFA's decision to remove him, even after the police had closed the case.
"I am very saddened to have been unfairly accused. I fully cooperated with the authorities and also maintained full transparency with FIFA, UEFA and KNVB. The allegations were refuted and the case was closed two weeks after a proper and thorough investigation by the police. I am grateful for the support I received from the KNVB and the way they handled this case. It is a shame that FIFA decided not to count me for the 2026 World Cup. Of course I am disappointed by this," he said.
Dieperink's career
Rob Dieperink became a professional referee in 2012 and debuted in the Eredivisie, the main division of Dutch football, in 2017. Since then, he has built a career at national and international level, even being appointed as VAR for several Euro 2024 matches.
Read Also: World Cup will have historic semi-finals with four champions
Source:
Noticias ao Minuto - Ultima Hora
