Barcelona announced on Sunday that the annual club membership fee for next season will remain €177 ($220), the same price as the last two seasons (SPORT, 12/14). ... A meeting by La Liga side Elche's foundation ended with former VP Juan Anguix -- who is still a board member -- asking for the resignation of club President José Sepulcre. Of the foundation's 13 members, though, 11 "approved of the club's management" (INFORMACION, 12/14). ... Ligue 1 side Lens “finally received” the €2.5M ($3.1M) that the club has "been waiting on for several weeks." The club “urgently needed this sum” before appearing before the National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG) on Tuesday to appeal the recruiting ban currently placed on the club. Azerbaijan "made the payment in place of the club’s majority shareholder," Hafiz Mammadov, who has filed for bankruptcy in the country (L’EQUIPE, 12/12). ... Former Brazilian footballer Ronaldo "is moving into U.S. soccer." Ronaldo "is joining the ownership group of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, a team that plays in the North American Soccer League." Ronaldo: “I am confident that my experience, vision, and work will be instrumental in helping to elevate the Strikers, the NASL, and soccer in the U.S. to the highest level." A group of Brazilian businessmen "took control of the club last month" (BLOOMBERG, 12/11). ... UEFA said that it fined the Croatian FA €80,000 ($100,000) "for racist behavior and crowd disturbances at a qualifying match with Italy." Croatia "also must close off at least 8,000 stadium seats during its next UEFA competition" (BLOOMBERG, 12/12).
