FIFA has officially suspended Dutch referee Rob Dieperink from officiating at the upcoming 2026 World Cup. This decision follows an incident in April, where the London Metropolitan Police detained Dieperink on suspicion of sexual abuse involving a minor.
Despite his stature as one of the leading VAR specialists, Dieperink has lost the right to represent the Netherlands at the world’s premier tournament. He claims that the case has been closed due to a lack of evidence and that the police do not plan to bring formal charges. However, the reputational damage has proven significant for international football authorities.
The Royal Netherlands Football Association issued a statement in support of Dieperink, but this did not affect FIFA’s stance, as the organization aims to minimize ethical risks associated with the tournament.
The void left by Dieperink will likely be filled by French referee Willy Delajod, with his appointment expected to be confirmed soon to finalize the lineup of video assistant referees.