When it was confirmed that the English referee Bobby Madley would not be a feature of this year's Premier League, grotesque rumours surroundings his departure flourished.
However, after it was revealed that Madley would be emigrating to Norway, revelations regarding the actual scandal that has dogged his professional life demonstrate an altogether more conventional tone.
Reported in The Sun, the real reason for Madley's departure involves the publication of an inappropriate message sent from his Snapchat account.
Sharing an image of a disabled man, Madley is believed to have made an insensitive remark about "the probability of being able to beat him in a school sports day race."
Screen-grabbed by one of Madley's followers on the app, this message was taken to Madley's employers, and he was duly removed from his position on grounds of discrimination.
It is an incident that prompts all sorts of questions: Why would a 32-year-old Premier League referee have Snapchat? Who would possibly want to follow him? Why would he think sending such a message would pass by without comment or censure?
Believed to have been on a six-figure salary, Madley will now start anew in Norway. Prior to the revelations regarding his decision to leave English football, it was thought that Madley would continue refereeing in his new home.
