Former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton has accepted an NFL studio role with Fox for 2022, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Payton, who also drew interest from Amazon.com Inc. and recently was linked to a coaching position with the Carolina Panthers, is believed to be joining Fox's NFL Sunday studio lineup when analyst Jimmy Johnson is not working. (ProFootballTalk)
Private equity firm Apollo Global Management is reportedly set to offer top-flight Mexican soccer league Liga MX a roughly $1.25 billion investment for 20% of its international media rights revenue over the next 50 years. Apollo's proposal, which is contingent upon a collective sale of broadcast rights by the league's teams, could come as early as this week, according to someone familiar with the plan. (Sportico)
Disagreements have emerged in the sale of Chelsea FC to a consortium led by billionaire Todd Boehly, specifically on the question of where and how roughly £1.6 billion ($2 billion) in debt owed to current owner Roman Abramovich will be routed, said a person familiar with the matter. Abramovich, who is under U.K. sanctions and cannot profit from the sale, previously agreed to waive the debt and have proceeds donated to a charitable foundation, but details are unclear and slowing the sale process, the source said. (Bloomberg)
COLLEGE SPORTS
Rich College Sports Fans Are Funneling Millions to Athletes Carly Wanna, Bloomberg News
Wealthy college sports fans across the US are racing to set up organizations that can channel money to student athletes in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling last year letting amateur players receive compensation. Supporters of Penn State University, including the son of famed coach Joe Paterno, have set up multiple funds, known as collectives.
Miami's billionaire booster defends his big-dollar NIL deals Liz Clarke, The Washington Post
The NCAA gave notice recently that penalties could be coming for universities whose boosters use endorsement deals to coax recruits or transfers to enroll amid the evolving rules of amateurism in college sports. One high-profile booster who's not worried about the enforcement staff's scrutiny is Miami graduate John H. Ruiz, a billionaire entrepreneur and lawyer who has pledged to spend at least $10 million on athletes he believes can help promote his businesses.
