Dutch referee Rob Dieperink has died at the age of 38, after being withdrawn from the World Cup due to an investigation for sexual assault.

Rob Dieperink, a Dutch football referee, passed away at the age of 38, a few weeks after being excluded from the FIFA World Cup due to an investigation by the Metropolitan Police in Great Britain.

Dieperink had been selected to be a video assistant referee (VAR) at this summer's tournament, but was removed in May after being arrested in April for an alleged sexual assault on a teenager. The case was dropped due to lack of evidence. The Dutch football association, KNVB, expressed shock and sadness at his death, emphasizing that they lost a valued referee and a dedicated colleague.

Dieperink had officiated in the Eredivisie since 2017 and was a VAR at Euro 2024. After his exclusion, he stated that he was "wrongly accused" and that he fully cooperated with the authorities.

The police concluded that there was not enough evidence to continue the case. The cause of Dieperink's death has not been disclosed.