The Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) has confirmed that referee Rob Dieperink has died at the age of 38.
Dieperink has been a referee in professional football since 2011, officiating 284 matches, and has officiated in the Eredivisie, the top division of Dutch football, since 2017.
In a statement, the KNVB called his death a “great loss.”
In May, FIFA suspended Dieperink as VAR official for this summer’s World Cup after he was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in April following allegations of sexually assaulting an underage boy in London.
Dieperink subsequently said the Met had closed the case, meaning no charges would be laid, and a police spokesman later confirmed this. Athletic that “the evidentiary threshold has not been met” and “no further action” will be taken.
After being ejected from the tournament, Dieperink told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that he was “sorry” that he would not be officiating at the World Cup and said he was “very sad that I was wrongly accused”.
“With Rob’s passing, the world of football has lost a respected referee with international experience, but most of all, we have lost a great colleague,” the KNVB said on Monday.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone who was dear to him. We wish them much strength and comfort as they come to terms with this great loss.”
“It is with great sadness that FIFA has learned of the passing of Dutch match official Rob Dieperink,” FIFA said in a statement.
“On behalf of the entire football community, we offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends, as well as the Dutch Football Association. May he rest in peace.”
Dieperink worked as part of the video assistant referee team at Euro 2024 and the 2024 Europa League final.
“I fully cooperated with the investigation and immediately provided full transparency to FIFA, UEFA and the KNVB,” Dieperink said in May.
“The allegations were denied and the case was closed within two weeks following an adequate and thorough police investigation.
“I’m grateful for the support I received from the KNVB and the way they handled this matter. It’s a shame that FIFA decided not to nominate me for the World Cup, I’m certainly disappointed about that.”