Dutch Eredivisie referee Rob Dieperink has died at the age of 38, the KNVB confirmed on Monday. The cause of death has not been disclosed, and the Dutch football association said it was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the news. Dieperink had officiated a pre-season friendly just two days before his death.
His death comes weeks after FIFA removed him from its list of match officials for the 2026 World Cup in May. He had been arrested by London's Metropolitan Police on 9 April on suspicion of sexual assault against a teenage boy, but the case was subsequently dropped due to a lack of evidence.
Dieperink made his Eredivisie debut in 2017 and served as a VAR official at Euro 2024. He was most recently the VAR for Crystal Palace's victory over Fiorentina on 9 April, the same day as his arrest.