Rob Dieperink found dead two months after being stood down over sexual assault allegation | OneFootball

Rob Dieperink, 38, was found dead at his home in Borculo on Monday morning, two months after he was stood down from World Cup 2026 duty amid a sexual assault allegation involving a minor. The cause remains unknown and police have ruled out third-party involvement.

He last officiated on Saturday in a friendly between Apollo FC and Go Ahead Eagles.

In April he was arrested in London during an investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a 17-year-old boy. No charges were brought. In May FIFA barred his participation and he was dropped from the 2026 World Cup VAR roster, a stance the governing body maintained.

“This makes me very sad, I was wrongly accused. I fully cooperated with the police investigation and was transparent with FIFA, UEFA and the KNVB. I am grateful for the KNVB’s support and how they handled it. It is a pity FIFA decided not to appoint me for the World Cup, I am, of course, disappointed,” he told De Telegraaf.

Dieperink had initially been selected for the tournament’s VAR team before his exclusion.

Source: Le Progres