Overview
- The Royal Dutch Football Association confirmed Dieperink’s death on Monday and described him as a respected referee and colleague.
- Dutch media reported police activity near the street where he lived and said inquiries into the circumstances are ongoing with no cause disclosed by authorities.
- Dieperink was arrested in London on April 9, 2026 on suspicion of sexual assault against a teenage boy, a case the Metropolitan Police later closed after finding insufficient evidence to proceed.
- FIFA removed Dieperink from its list of 2026 World Cup match officials in May 2026 and that decision remains in place despite the Met’s closure of the investigation.
- Dieperink had refereed in the Eredivisie since 2017 and served as a VAR at Euro 2024, and his death may prompt renewed scrutiny of how football bodies handle allegations and temporary removals of officials.