La Liga club Atlético Madrid formalized the purchase of 34.6% "of the shares of Ligue 2 club Lens," according to Dermot Corrigan of ESPN.com. It was announced in May that "Atletico were to take a large share in the French club." Lens was relegated in '11, and although the club won promotion in '14, it was "not allowed back into the top flight due to budget irregularities." An Extraordinary General Meeting of Atlético's shareholders "voted to approve the deal on Monday, with a subsequent club statement detailing some of the reasons behind the purchase." The statement said, "The board has approved with 3,562,533 votes in favour and 7,565 votes against, which represents a 99.78 percent of the votes cast in favour of the agreement, the acquisition of a participation of 34.6 percent of the French club Racing Club of Lens." Lens' Delelis-Bollaert stadium was renovated in Oct. '15 to host Euro 2016 matches. The statement added, "Its current capacity is 38,223 with spacious and modern facilities for corporate events. The La Gaillette training centre, opened in 2001, also houses the corporate offices of the club and has 12 playing fields [including a covered one] on an area of 22 hectares" (ESPN.com, 7/12).
