A referee who was dropped from officiating at the World Cup due to sexual assault allegations has been found dead. Dutch official Rob Dieperink, 38, was removed from the tournament in May following an arrest in London. Dieperink, who was supposed to be a VAR official during the tournament, was suspected of sexually assaulting an underage boy. The charges were dropped for lack of evidence. The Dutch Football Association revealed that Dieperink has died. World Cup referee Rob Dieperink dies weeks after being fired over sexual assault arrest. https://t.co/LJp0VuMcNH pic.twitter.com/84hEbFusYM — TMZ (@TMZ) July 13, 2026 More from the New York Post: Following his removal from the World Cup, Dieperink told De Telegraaf that he had been “wrongly accused” and was “disappointed” to miss out on the World Cup. “From the beginning, I have fully cooperated with the police investigation and also immediately provided full disclosure to FIFA, UEFA, and the KNVB (Dutch FA),” he said. “I am grateful for the support I have received from the KNVB and the way they have handled this matter.” Dieperink, who debuted as a ref in 2012, was arrested by police in London following a Conference League match between Crystal Palace and Fiorentina. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said that Dieperink was arrested following an alleged incident in Croydon, South London. “With Rob, the refereeing community loses a highly valued referee with international experience, but above all, a fine and dedicated colleague,” the Dutch Football Association said, according to the outlet. “Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and everyone who held him dear. We wish them much strength and support in coping with this great loss,” it added. BBC shared further: Dieperink was the VAR for Crystal Palace’s 3-0 Europa Conference League quarter-final first-leg win over Fiorentina on 9 April. A Metropolitan Police statement said: “On Thursday, 9 April, officers responded to a report of a sexual assault against a teenage boy, which occurred at an address on Wellesley Road, Croydon. “A man in his 30s was subsequently arrested on suspicion of sexual assault. “Officers completed a thorough investigation and reviewed all available evidence, including gathering CCTV and examining digital devices. “Following these enquiries, they concluded that the evidential threshold had not been met. No further action will be taken.” The post 38-Year-Old Referee Dropped From World Cup After Being Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Teenage Boy Found Dead appeared first on 100PercentFedUp.com.