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.
He was the key participant in the 1905 scandal, where he allegedly tried to bribe Alex Leake, a rival player with Aston Villa, a sum of £10 to throw the final match of the 1904–05 English football season (City were in contention for the title, while Villa had dropped out of the running).
[2] After losing the match and thus any hopes of winning the league, Manchester City player Sandy Turnbull physically fought with Alex Leake, and the resulting investigation into the violence revealed the bribery scandal, Leake turning Meredith in to The Football Association when asked about the incident; however, Meredith always pleaded innocence.
The team delivered the goods, the club paid for the goods delivered and both sides were satisfied"[4] As a result, he claimed, "You approve of the severe punishment administered by the Commission AGAINST ME and state that the offence I committed at Aston Villa should have wiped me out of football forever.
[4] Manchester United's manager, Ernest Mangnall, bought up many of the most talented players, including Billy Meredith (for £500), Herbert Burgess, Sandy Turnbull, and Jimmy Bannister.