Bobby Madley was sacked as a Premier League referee for posting an offensive Snapchat message which discriminated against disabled people, it has been claimed.
The referees' body PGMOL announced earlier this month that Madley would no longer be officiating matches 'due to a change in personal circumstances'.
Now it has been reported that Madley shared a picture of a disabled man with an offensive comment about beating him in a school sports day race.
A follower screenshotted the picture and sent it to Madley's bosses, leading the top-flight official to be fired, according to The Sun.
The 32-year-old referee is in talks to officiate matches in Norway where he is reportedly planning to emigrate with his Scandinavian partner.
Top Norwegian referee Terje Hauge told TV 2 that Madley was open to officiating games for the Eliteserien, Norway's professional football league.
Madley's family were forced to respond after wild rumours circulated on the internet, labelling them 'utter rubbish'.
But they confirmed that he and wife Rachel, 34, have split after two years of marriage.
Madley had been deemed one of the best referees in the country, with the potential to become one of Europe's elite. He was elevated to the FIFA list last year.
Hailing from Halifax, West Yorkshire, he had refereed 91 matches in the top flight over the past five seasons.
The 32-year-old missed the opening weekend of fixtures after failing to show up for the mandatory pre-season referees meeting at St George's Park where they are briefed and prepared.
The PGMOL had 18 referees for the new Premier League season but that will now be limited to just 17.
They released a statement following his absence in which they confirmed his resignation.
It read: 'Bobby Madley is no longer employed by PGMOL.
'We understand that he has decided to relocate due to a change in his personal circumstances.'
Weaceknprt
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your well known enemy is better than that enemy that claims to be your best friend
lively
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Regardless of the content, it was a private joke. Hardly a sackable incident in my opinion.
Hymanhugo
1
This is the same story I was told a couple of weeks ago. A moment of madness has jeopardised the career of an excellent ref.
Newmannel
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So next time somebody says to me, you've had a change of personal circumstances, I'll worry as it means I've been sacked.
LovePSG
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Why is that a sackable offence? People need to lighten up. Too many thin skinned snowflakes.
kidding
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All wrong on so many levels. So called friend is an evil human being. It is so underhand to send it to his bosses. But put this friend aside, as their actions speak for themselves, why this unnecessary overreaction on something that occurred in the private life of an employee. Jobs are not the only part of an employee's life. What happens in private should remain in private.
uglyboy
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The world has gone crazy. Sure it's in bad taste, but it wasn't shared publicly.
inoculate
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Ridiculous. The world has gone to soft. I accept he was silly doing what he did but to sack him is silly
inaccessible
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Another reason to keep of social media in the public eye it comes back to haunt you.
Pinocchio
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What a silly thing to do. We all like a joke but we all have to be so careful with social media.
bearing
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Surely a friend would have had a quiet word in his ear, not take a screenshot and send it to his bosses!!
Unhappygirl
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How can they issue a statement saying he had resigned and weeks later say he was sacked?
Royruss
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Some friend he was. Although to be honest I'm not sure I believe this "story"
amicablef
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Why have we lost all sense of humour , I am disabled but can still laugh at funny and stupid comments. Why does everyone seem to have the right to take offence, at anything people say.
Elismer
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because the tolerance is so pitifully low it is so easy to cross the line these days and face a punishment out of all proportion to the crime, we are becoming absolutely ridiculous
Balancea
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Bosses should separate the refs private lives from their professional lives. He's great at his day job and useless at his home job, he should not be sacked for a private message.
LoveJUV
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It's frightening that these days a private joke could lose you your job. The hypocrisy of it all is astounding...these easily offended thought police...can they really say they've never done this sort of thing with their mates in the pub??? Next week it will be against the law to have an independent thought. Social media has exposed the world as being full of aggressively opinionated self appointed critics.
borrow
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So much for mates. Get over it I've received and sent much worse.
Opacity
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In this day and age I find it hard to belive he did this. But if he did he is a complete fool.
Spencerer
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A friend? Not a friend if they sent a private joke to his employers is it?
Defenses
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Everyone had friends until....... Can anyone trust anyone nowadays. The secret is not to give anyone any ammunition. Its going to make life so bland but so called friends can wipe you out. Another pressure we can do without today.
overthing
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He was joking about his own ability.
Tylerddr
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Some friend. It may have been a bit tasteless but nonetheless it was a joke
derivatives
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A private joke. His taste in humour is subjective this should not result in him being removed from his job.
childhood
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Says more about his friend then it does about him!!