Film director Alex de la Iglesia's "Messi," which "tells the story" of Argentine star LIONEL MESSI, debuted at 14 theaters in Catalonia on Thursday. The film had a "pre-debut in Brazil during the World Cup that drew hundreds of journalists" (CLARIN, 1/2). ... Formula 1 driver JULES BIANCHI is undergoing a "painstaking programme of rehabilitation therapy." A family statement said that medical professionals "have started the planned treatment" (BBC, 12/30). ... Chinese former IOC member HE ZHENLIANG died at the age of 85. He, who was elected to the IOC in '81 and elected IOC VP in '89, "died at a hospital in Beijing Sunday afternoon." He was "instrumental in Beijing's successful bid for the right to host the 2008 Olympic Games" (XINHUA, 1/4). ... French Formula E driver FRANCK MONTAGNY "has been suspended from competition after testing positive for cocaine use." He "does not dispute the charges." The 36-year-old has driven in several int'l series over the years, "including F1 and IndyCar." Most recently he was "one of the drivers for Andretti Autosport in the Formula E" (FOX NEWS, 1/2). ... The Sydney Cricket Ground is set to "place a brass plaque outside the home-team dressing room" in honor of PHIL HUGHES on Monday, "a day before the start of the fourth and final cricket Test between India and Australia here." The brass plaque that will be installed by the SCG Trust on the brickwork "at the top of the stairs that lead to the home team's dressing room will feature a small bust of Hughes' smiling face at the entrance of the Members' Pavilion" (PTI, 1/4). ... Liverpool captain STEVEN GERRARD will join a Major League Soccer team in the U.S. "when he leaves Anfield at the end of the season." Gerrard announced on Friday that "he was leaving the Premier League club he has played for throughout his career and moving to a foreign team" (REUTERS, 1/3).
BAE SEEKS LEGAL ADVICE: South Korean golfer BAE SANG-MOON "plans to compete on the PGA Tour next week in Hawaii while getting legal advice to help resolve a requirement that he return home by month's end to complete military service, his manager said." A two-time winner on the PGA Tour, world No. 84 Bae "must return to Korea by the end of January or he could risk criminal charges as his current permit expires in the coming days, according to his mother" (REUTERS, 1/3).
