FIFA has excluded Dutch referee Rob Dieperink from the pool of officials for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, according to reporting from both The Canary and The Athletic. The decision follows Dieperink’s arrest in London last April, when he was accused of sexual assault involving a minor. Both outlets note that the matter was later closed without charges being filed, and Dieperink said on Friday that the case has been closed.
Despite the closure of the criminal case, FIFA has taken an administrative decision to remove him from World Cup officiating roles, where he was expected to work as a VAR. The Athletic reports that FIFA comments on the situation indicate the exclusion is based on FIFA’s process for assessing officials following allegations and investigations, even when a case ends without prosecution.
Neither outlet disputes that Dieperink was arrested and that the case concluded without charges. The accounts focus on FIFA’s subsequent decision and the timeline from the London arrest to the World Cup exclusion, rather than the underlying allegations themselves.
