Rob Diepelink dies at the age of 38, weeks after the Dutch referee was ruled out of the 2026 World Cup
FIFA referee Rob Diepelinck has died at the age of 38. (Image: Photo by Pieter van der Woude/BSR Agency/Getty Images))
FIFA referee Rob Diepelinck has died at the age of 38. He was sacked as a referee at this summer’s World Cup and removed from the list of Eredivisie officials, and was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in April after being accused of sexually assaulting an underage boy in London, but the case was later dropped.
Dutch police are investigating Dieperinck’s death, but the cause of death is unknown at this stage.
The Dutch Football Association said it was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the news of Dieperinck’s death. They said in a statement: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of referee Rob Diepelinck.
“With Rob, the refereeing community loses an invaluable referee with international experience, but most of all it loses an excellent and dedicated colleague.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all those who cared about him. We wish them much strength and support as they cope with this great loss.”
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Diepelinck was selected to represent the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup as a video assistant referee, accompanying Danny McCarey. However, he was removed by the governing body following news that he had been arrested following charges in the UK.
The 38-year-old was detained on suspicion of sexually assaulting a teenage boy following the incident in a London hotel following Crystal Palace’s 3-0 win over Fiorentina.
In May, the Metropolitan Police Department confirmed to The Athletic that the case had been dropped because “the adequacy of the evidence was not met” and that “no further action would be taken.”
The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), which employs Dieperinck, also supported the match officials. In a statement to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, the 38-year-old expressed his disappointment with FIFA’s decision.
“I am very saddened to have been falsely accused. I fully cooperated with the police investigation and immediately made a full disclosure to FIFA, UEFA and the KNVB,” he said.
“Following a proper and thorough investigation by the police, the allegations were refuted and the case was dropped within two weeks.
“I am grateful for the support I have received from the KNVB and the way they have handled this matter. It is unfortunate that FIFA has decided not to appoint me to the World Cup and I am of course disappointed in that.”
Top Dutch player and FIFA referee Rob Diepelink has died at the age of 38. (Image: Photo by Broer van den Boom/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
In a statement published in The Athletic, the KNVB said: “We support a safe and honest football culture at all levels and always take reports of unwanted behavior seriously.
“While we believe that referees in the Netherlands should behave without question, we also believe that it is important that they have the opportunity to tell their story without being unfairly accused.
“In this particular incident, British police investigated and solved the case. Rob Diepelinck has cooperated fully from the beginning and has shown an open attitude to the KNVB. Based on all the information available, there is no reason not to appoint him for Dutch league matches.”
Diepelinck started refereeing in the Dutch top league in 2017, then moved onto the international stage as a video assistant, and was in charge of several matches at the 2024 European Championship in Germany.
He made 84 substitute appearances in the Eredivisie, his last match coming on 3 May 2026 in PEC Zwolle’s 1–0 win over Hercules Almelo.
