Rob Dieperink, a 38-year-old Dutch referee and VAR specialist, dreamed of taking part in the 2026 World Cup. FIFA had already selected him. But in April, in London, a sexual assault allegation removed him from the list before he could make his debut.
Scotland Yard investigated for months. They reviewed cameras, cell phones, every detail. The conclusion came too late for his career: there was no evidence. The case was completely closed. Before that, Dieperink had confessed to De Telegraaf that he felt “wrongly accused” and devastated at missing the tournament of his life. On July 13, the KNVB confirmed the worst: his body was found on the street where he lived. The causes of death are still unknown.