Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency: Dutch football referee Rob Dieperink has fled the country, weeks after being investigated by police in the UK after being eliminated from the FIFA World Cup. The body of the referee was recovered from the street in front of his residence by local police on Monday morning. The Football Association of the Netherlands (KNVB) expressed deep sorrow over the untimely death in a statement. The organization said it was deeply shocked and saddened by the incident. However, the cause of the referee's death has not yet been announced. The incident began in April. He was arrested by London's Metropolitan Police on charges of sexually assaulting a teenager at an address in Croydon, London. However, the police investigation did not find sufficient evidence and the case was dismissed as the truth of the allegations was not proven. The Metropolitan Police have made it clear that after reviewing all the information, including CCTV footage and digital devices, they have concluded that the allegation did not meet the criteria required to prove the prima facie case, and therefore no further legal action will be taken against him. In light of the incident, FIFA decided to exclude him from this year's World Cup. In an interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Dieperink claimed that he had been wrongly accused. He said that he had cooperated fully with the police from the beginning of the investigation and had presented all the information transparently to FIFA, UEFA and KNVB. However, he also expressed his extreme disappointment at the decision to exclude him from the World Cup. Dieperink, who has been refereeing in the Netherlands' top league, Eredivisie, since 2017, served as a video assistant referee (VAR) at Euro 2024. He was also the VAR for the Europa Conference League match between Crystal Palace and Fiorentina on April 9. The KNVB expresses its condolences to the bereaved family on his untimely death and assures them of its support during this difficult time. He will be remembered as a highly valued referee and dedicated colleague in the football world.
