Read 3 minutes21 Jun 2026 01:57 PM IST
An Argentine TV presenter has quit her role following the country’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Algeria after falsely reporting the death of Lionel Messi’s father.
Florencia Pena claimed on Argentinian streaming channel Luzu TV, saying on live broadcast that Messi’s father had died and that his death was “sudden”.
“I don’t want to break bad news, but Messi’s father just passed away. It was sudden. In the middle of the World Cup,” she said.
Pena later issued a public apology, saying that the information was given to her during the broadcast and that she believes it to be true.
“I must clarify that this false information was provided to me during the live broadcast, as verified by the show’s production team, and I believed it,” she wrote on X on Friday.
I ask for forgiveness from the Messi family for the scary moment that I imagine I am living. Estoy muy avergonzada de haber sido el vehículo para este dolor.
Tengo que clarar que esta falsa información me fue Brindada en medio del vivo como chequeada por cucaracha por la producción…
— Florencia Pena (@Flor_de_P) 18 June 2026
“Still, I take responsibility for being a part of the mistake, and that’s why I’ve decided to step aside and end my involvement in Luzu. I sincerely apologize again; I was wrong,” she added.
Luzu TV also apologized for the incident and announced disciplinary action, saying the dissemination of sensitive information without proper verification was unacceptable.
Nicolas Occhiato, the channel’s host and producer, said: “We at Luzoo TV are deeply sorry for what happened during El Show de Verano. For our channel, broadcasting sensitive information without proper prior verification is unacceptable.
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“For this reason, Luzu TV management has decided to terminate the employment of all those responsible and Florencia Pena has decided to step down.”
“We reaffirm our commitment to responsible, respectful and rigorous journalism.”
Messi’s family issued a statement saying that the footballer’s father, Jorge Messi, was receiving treatment for an undisclosed medical condition.
“At this time, he is under medical supervision, recovering and making progress with the condition he is experiencing,” the statement said.
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The controversy arose after Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria. The 38-year-old appeared emotional during the match and later said he had had a “difficult day” due to personal reasons unrelated to football.
Argentina’s next match is against Austria on Monday.