The 1905 English football bribery scandal was an event of corruption that surfaced at the conclusion of the 1904–05 football season in England. It centred on the accusations that Manchester City player Billy Meredith had offered a rival player from Aston Villa a bribe to purposely lose their final league match of the season between the teams.
It resulted in the Manchester City manager (Tom Maley) and former chairman (W. Forrest) being banned from English football sine die, two directors (Allison and Davies) suspended for seven months, a further five directors dismissed, and a total of 17 players banned from ever playing for the club again. Among the players was Billy Meredith, who was banned from football for 18 months and transferred to City's local rivals Manchester United before the end of his ban.[1]