Chelsea leads way with transfer spree
Chelsea was set to complete another staggering spending spree by its new American ownership — more than $350 million this time — by signing Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez for a British-record fee on the final day of the January transfer window on Tuesday.
Negotiations between Benfica and Chelsea ended with the Premier League club agreeing to pay the release clause of $131.4 million in the 22year-old World Cup winner’s contract.
Chelsea has spent more this month than every club in the top leagues in Spain, Italy, Germany and France combined and was set to end January having signed eight players, including Ukraine winger Mykhailo Mudryk ($108 million) and France center back Benoît Badiashile ($40 million). The club also sold midfielder Jorginho to Premier League leader Arsenal.
MOTOR SPORTS NASCAR bans Chastain’s move
NASCAR has essentially banned the “Hail Melon” video-game move driver Ross Chastain used at Martinsville Speedway to make the championship finale.
Chastain last year mashed the gas and deliberately smashed into the wall so that the energy would speed his car past his rivals. The move advanced him to the last spot in NASCAR's titledeciding final race.
Fellow competitors thought Chastain's trick was dangerous and not in the spirit of fair competition. NASCAR said the pass Chastain made will be a penalty in 2023.
Cal fires coach for abusive acts
Longtime University of California women's swimming coach Teri McKeever was fired following an investigation into alleged harassment, bullying and verbally abusive conduct, the school said in a statement. McKeever led the Golden Bears to four NCAA team titles over 29 years. She coached the U.S. women's swim team at the London Olympics in 2012.
LPGA event off: The Blue Bay LPGA, scheduled for March 9-12 on Hainan Island, has been canceled by the China Golf Association for the third time in four years because of what the LPGA Tour described as ongoing COVID-19 matters.
Zverev cleared: German tennis player Alexander Zverev will not face disciplinary action after an investigation into domestic abuse allegations against him found “insufficient evidence” to substantiate the claims.