Rob Dieperink dies, referee sidelined before the World Cup

The world of football is suffering hard blows during this World Cup. First it was the case of Jayden Adams a South African footballer. Today the death of referee Rob Dieperink has become known. This was announced by the Netherlands federation, although without specifying what the cause was. We have received with shock and deep sadness the news of the passing of Rob Dieperink. Rob had worked as a professional football referee since the 2011/12 season. At the end of 2017, he officiated his first match in the Eredivisie. In total, he refereed 284 professional football matches. In addition, Rob had a notable international role as a video assistant referee (VAR). For example, he was part of the officiating team at Euro 2024 and at that same year's Olympic Games. He was also frequently appointed to matches in European club competitions.