Former Premier League referee Bobby Madley is set to leave the country

Madley retired as a Premier League official last week

Bobby Madley is reportedly set to leave the UK following his surprise decision to step down from his position as a Premier League referee. It emerged last week that the 32-year-old had abruptly quit his role after a change in his personal circumstances. A report by the Daily Mail now says that Madley intends to emigrate to Norway, the country where his partner originates from. The report adds that the exact reasons for his sudden decision to turn his back on refereeing remain unclear. Madley is said to have failed to attend a compulsory pre-season briefing for referees at St. George's Park before the Premier League season began. His departure was not revealed to his peers in the referees' organisation, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), until the news of his departure was made public. In a statement PGMOL, said:  'Bobby Madley is no longer employed by PGMOL. We understand that he has decided to relocate due to a change in his personal circumstances.' Madley was held in high regard by the Premier League and was tipped to become one of Europe's leading officials. He was elevated to the FIFA list last year, making him eligible to officiate European and international fixtures. He was trusted with some high-profile matches last season, including Manchester United’s home games against Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea as well as Liverpool vs Arsenal in March. He had also refereed the Community Shield game between Arsenal and Chelsea in August last year too.