Manchester United could reportedly incur a fine of up to £15m if they cough up the ransom money demanded by hackers who infiltrated the club's computer systems.
The Red Devils became the victims of a "sophisticated" cyber attack last week, with staff reportedly still unable to access their email accounts as computer networks remain down.
United have since been assisted by UK Cyber Security in the wake of the attack, although the hackers are still believed to be in control of the club's systems and are threatening to release sensitive information unless a ransom is paid.
Should United give in to the demands, the Daily Mail reports that the Premier League giants could face a hefty fine of £15m due to US legislation, with the Red Devils subject to US law as they are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has also warned against paying up to the hackers, who would likely be encouraged to carry out further attacks if their demands are met.
While United have not revealed the origin of the attack, the Red Devils are confident that fan data has not been impacted by the recent breach.
Ben Knapton
