An Argentine television presenter has resigned from her role after making a false claim about Lionel Messi's father during a live World Cup broadcast, triggering widespread criticism and forcing both the broadcaster and the Messi family to respond.
False Report Sparks Immediate Backlash
Florencia Pena stepped down from Luzu TV after incorrectly announcing that Jorge Messi, the father of the Argentina captain, had died. The statement came shortly after Lionel Messi appeared emotional during Argentina's World Cup match against Algeria, where the football legend scored the first of his three goals.
The controversy began during an episode of Luzu TV's El Show del Verano when Pena shared information that she believed to be accurate. 'I don't want to break bad news, but Messi's father just died,' Pena stated. 'Right in the middle of the World Cup, he's going to have to leave,' she added.
As criticism mounted, Pena issued a public apology and accepted responsibility for sharing unverified information on air. 'I apologise to the Messi family for the awful moment I imagine they are going through. I am deeply ashamed to have been the vehicle for this pain. I must clarify that this false information was provided to me during the live broadcast, as verified by the production team of the show, and I trusted it. Even so, I take responsibility for being part of the mistake, and that's why I decided to step aside and end my participation in Luzu. I apologise again from the heart; I was wrong.'
Broadcaster Takes Action After Incident
Following Pena's resignation, Luzu TV released its own statement addressing the controversy. The broadcaster acknowledged that serious mistakes had been made and stressed that sensitive information should never be aired without proper verification. 'We deeply regret the incident that occurred on air during the program. For our channel, broadcasting sensitive information without proper prior verification is unacceptable. Consequently, Luzu TV management has decided to part ways with all those responsible, and Florencia Pena has decided to step aside. We reaffirm our commitment to responsible, respectful, and rigorous communication.'
Messi Family Confirms Father's Health Situation
Amid the growing speculation, the Messi family released a statement confirming that Jorge Messi is dealing with a health issue but dismissed reports of his death. 'Jorge is going through a health situation. He is currently under medical observation, recovering and progressing favorably within his current condition. At times like these, we ask for responsibility, prudence and humanity. A person's health and the peace of mind of their loved ones should not be the subject of speculation or irresponsible media interest.'
Despite the off-field distraction, Argentina remain focused on their World Cup campaign. The defending champions sit top of Group J and know that a victory against Austria on June 22 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas will secure their place in the knockout stages as they continue their quest to retain the trophy.
Algeria Submits Petition to FIFA Against Messi
In another development, the Federation of Algerian Football has reportedly demanded answers from the FIFA referee's committee after their World Cup opener against Argentina. Defending champions Argentina defeated the Desert Foxes 3-0 in their opening Group J match, thanks to Lionel Messi's brilliant hat-trick.
