Dutch Referee Rob Dieperink Passes Away After World Cup Exclusion

Dutch referee Rob Dieperink has passed away at the age of 38, just weeks after being removed from the list of officials for the 2026 World Cup, a decision that sparked significant interest in the sports community. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed by the relevant authorities.

Dieperink was initially selected as part of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team for the 2026 World Cup, but FIFA decided to exclude him from the list a month before the tournament.

The exclusion followed allegations against the Dutch referee regarding a sexual assault on a minor, although the case was later closed by British authorities due to insufficient evidence, with no charges brought against him.

Dieperink had previously stated his full cooperation with the investigations from the outset, expressing his sadness over being excluded from the World Cup despite the case being closed later.

Despite the case ending without a conviction, the Dutch referee did not return to the list of officials for the tournament, and his career tragically concluded just months later with the news of his death.