“We have co-operated fully with the police investigation. It is a shame that FIFA has decided this”
Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Friday, 15 May 2026, 23:44 / Updated Friday, 15 May 2026 23:48
FIFA has withdrawn Dutch referee Rob Dieperink from the World Cup referee list following his arrest in April by London's Metropolitan Police on suspicion of sexually assaulting a minor.
Although the case was closed by British police without charges being laid, world football's governing body decided to remove the Dutchman, who had been selected as the video referee (VAR) for the tournament. “FIFA can confirm that Rob Dieperink has been removed from the list of World Cup match officials,” notes The Athletic.
Dutch referee defends himself: “It makes me very sad that I was wrongly accused”
Sources familiar with the matter indicated to the same publication that French referee Willy Delajod would be Dieperink's replacement.
In a statement to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Rob Dieperink regretted the decision, describing it as a “punishment” and expressing his disappointment.
“I am very sad that I have been wrongly accused. We fully cooperated with the police investigation and also immediately provided full transparency to FIFA, UEFA and the Dutch Football Association. The allegations were denied and the case was dismissed within two weeks after a proper and thorough investigation by the police.”
The referee added that he was “grateful for the support” he received from the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) and the way they handled the case. “It is a shame that FIFA decided not to name me for the World Cup, I am of course disappointed by this“, he concluded.
The Dutch FA also reacted: “It is important that he is given the opportunity to tell his story and not be wrongly accused”
For its part, the Dutch Football Federation expressed its support for the official. A spokesman for the federation said: “We support a safe and honest football culture at all levels and always take complaints of inappropriate behavior seriously. Obviously, we believe that a Dutch referee must be of impeccable conduct, but we also believe that it is important that he be given the opportunity to tell his story and not be unfairly accused.”
The Dutch FA emphasized that, based on all available information and the classification of the case, they see “no reason not to name him for the matches in the Dutch championship”. However, the same spokesman confirmed that Dieperink will not be officiating this weekend. “Given the media coverage and the impact it has had on Rob, we will be withdrawing him from this weekend's delegation in his own interest and in the interest of the game“, he explained.
