Top Dutch soccer referee Rob Dieperink has died at age 38, just weeks after being removed from the World Cup following a sexual assault arrest in the United Kingdom.
The Dutch Football Association confirmed his death on Monday, saying in a statement that it was "shocked and deeply saddened" by his passing.
The cause of death remains unclear, and police are reportedly conducting an investigation.
Dieperink was originally set to officiate World Cup matches this summer but was dropped from the list after his arrest in April.
He was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy in the UK, though the case was ultimately dismissed due to lack of evidence.
According to the Daily Mail, Dieperink was accused of unwanted touching and attempting to lure a boy to his hotel room before a UEFA Conference League match between Crystal Palace and Fiorentina.
He was later arrested in front of other UEFA officials upon returning to the Netherlands.
His death comes days after the Egyptian International Team called for an investigation into French referee Willy Delajod, who replaced Dieperink at the World Cup, over controversial officiating during the Argentina vs. Egypt Round of 16 match.
