A Liverpool pub landlord who travelled to Paris with his son for Saturday night's Champions League final with Real Madrid has gone viral for the bold manner in which he informed the lad's school that the pupil would not be attending some lessons this week.
Tage Herstad, landlord of popular Merseyside venue Taggy's Bar, left for the French capital on Thursday along with his son William and a group of pals.
Their decision to make a weekend of it in Paris inevitably meant that William would have to miss at least two days of school to make the trip - not that his dad was in the slightest bothered when asked to explain why his son hadn't turned up for registration on Thursday morning.
Asked by the school to reply to a text message with the reason for his son's absence, William's father held nothing back.
"That is correct," began Tage's response.
"He is on his way to Paris with his dad and his dad's very bad mates, to watch the treble chasing Reds in yet another CL [Champions League] final.
"He'll hopefully bring home big ears No 7. #partytime #yolo #roflmao," he wrote in reference to the Champions League trophy. Victory on Saturday will see Liverpool crowned as Europe's elite club side for the seventh time in their history.
MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 01: Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool celebrates with the Champions League Trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League Final between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on June 01, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Alongside his confirmation of William's reason for absence, his father cheekily included a shot of the travelling party getting ready to board the ferry to France.
Tage's decision to allow his son to bunk off school certainly attracted its fair share of praise on Twitter, with many arguing that a trip to Paris has far more value to the young man than the two days he would otherwise have spent at school.
"A few days off school in return for a lifelong memory of an experience with his dad," reasoned one supportive comment.
"Not all education takes place in the classroom," agreed another.
"These were called 'important family engagements' back in the day," declared a third.
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - MAY 29: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates with the Champions League Trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League Final between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on June 01, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
After realising that the situation had blown up on Twitter, Tage tweeted again to insist: "It really doesn't matter. It's his third CL final, and hopefully not his last. This is the holy grail of club football, and I want him to be there with me."
The Herstad family, then, certainly hope that this weekend's trip to the final will not be their last. However, authorities might well have a close eye on William's attendance in future after one Twitter user claimed to have already reported Tage to authorities over the matter.
They wrote: "With a heavy heart, I've reported your family to the police for truancy. We need to bring #SELFRESPECT back to our schools."
MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 01: Jordan Henderson of Liverpool lifts the Champions League Trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League Final between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on June 01, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
To this, Tage responded: "Do whatever you feel you have to do so it makes your life better mate. Crack on and work on bringing #selfrespect into your own head".
It remains to be seen if any formal action will be taken against the family.
Education, of course, is a pivotal part of any child's development. With that said, opportunities to attend such a major occasion for your club on foreign soil as a family are few and far between for most.
We'll leave you to draw your own conclusion as to which side of that argument you fall on.