FIFA drops World Cup referee after UK sexual assault investigation

Dutch official Rob Dieperink was due to be a Video Assistant Referee at the upcoming World Cup. The case against him has been closed, he said on Friday. Pieter van der Woude/BSR Agency/Getty Images Share articleFIFA has dropped Rob Dieperink from its list of World Cup match officials after he was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in April following allegations of sexual assault against an underage boy in London. Dieperink, a Dutchman who had been selected as a VAR official for this summer’s tournament, has said the Metropolitan Police has closed the case, meaning no charges will be brought. “FIFA can confirm that Rob Dieperink has been removed from the list of FIFA World Cup match officials,” FIFA told The Athletic. In a statement, a spokesperson for the KNVB — the Royal Dutch Football Association, which employs Dieperink — outlined its support for the official. Despite the allegations not being upheld, FIFA, world football’s governing body, is expected to replace Dieperink with Willy Delajod, a French referee, sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic. In a statement to De Telegraaf, a Dutch newspaper, Dieperink described not being able to officiate at the World Cup as a “pity” and expressed his disappointment. “It makes me very sad that I have been wrongly accused,” Dieperink told De Telegraaf. “I fully cooperated with the police investigation and also immediately gave full openness to FIFA, UEFA and the KNVB. “The allegations were refuted and the case was dismissed within two weeks after an adequate and thorough investigation by the police. “I am grateful for the support I have received from the KNVB and the way they have dealt with this case. It is a pity that FIFA has decided not to appoint me for the World Cup, I am of course disappointed about that.” “We stand for a safe and honest football culture at all levels and always take reports of unwanted behaviour seriously,” the KNVB spokesperson said. “Obviously, we think that a Dutch referee should be of unquestionable behaviour, but we also think it is important that he gets the chance to tell his story and not be wrongly accused. “In this specific case, the police in the United Kingdom have investigated and closed the case. Rob Dieperink has cooperated fully and given openness to the KNVB from the very beginning, and based on all available information, we see no reason not to appoint him for matches in the Dutch league.” The KNVB spokesperson also confirmed Dieperink will not be officiating this weekend. “Given the news coverage and its impact on Rob, we are removing him from the weekend lineup in his best interest and the interest of the match,” they added. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms