Metropolitan Police
London police force that dropped the sexual-assault case against FIFA VAR official Rob Dieperink for insufficient evidence.
Last refreshed: 5 June 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Why did FIFA move faster than the police cleared Dieperink?
Timeline for Metropolitan Police
dropped the case against Dieperink on 15 May, finding the evidential threshold had not been met
2026 FIFA World Cup: FIFA drops cleared Dutch VAR official- Why did the Metropolitan Police drop the case against Rob Dieperink?
- The Metropolitan Police found the evidential threshold had not been met and took no further action on 15 May 2026. No charges were brought.Source: event
- What does 'evidential threshold not met' mean in a UK police investigation?
- It means prosecutors found insufficient evidence to charge the suspect and proceed to court. It does not mean an investigation concluded the allegation was false.
Background
The Metropolitan Police Service is London's territorial police force, responsible for policing the capital outside the City of London. It dropped the case against Dutch VAR official Rob Dieperink on 15 May 2026, finding that the evidential threshold had not been met, and took no further action. Dieperink had been arrested on 9 April 2026 on suspicion of sexual assault against a 17-year-old at a UEFA match. The police's conclusion that the evidential threshold was not met is a standard prosecutorial finding: it means the evidence available was insufficient to proceed, not that an investigation found the allegation to be false.
Founded in 1829, the Metropolitan Police is the UK's largest police force, covering over 620 square miles and a population of roughly nine million. It is headed by the Commissioner of Police and is accountable to the Mayor of London. It handles a range of high-profile cases involving public figures and international visitors given London's role as a global city.
