TV presenter quits role after false claim that Lionel Messi's father had died
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Jorge Messi is recovering and responding well to treatment.
- Florencia Peña resigned after falsely reporting Jorge's death.
- essi says his emotional World Cup tears were unrelated to football.
Peña, 51, made the remark during a live broadcast of El Show del Verano in Argentina, shortly after Messi had inspired his country to a 3-0 win over Algeria in their World Cup opener with a hat-trick.
I don't want to break bad news, but Messi's father just died.The claim quickly spread across social media before being firmly denied by the Messi family.
Right in the middle of the World Cup, he's going to have to leave.
Messi family issues strong statement
In an official statement, the family confirmed that Jorge Messi is facing a health issue but is recovering under medical care.The Messi family informs that Jorge Messi is currently going through a health-related situation.They stressed that only close relatives possess accurate information regarding Jorge's condition and warned that any claims not issued through official family channels should not be considered reliable.
At this time, he is under medical supervision, recovering and progressing favourably within his condition.
The family also expressed frustration over the speculation surrounding Jorge's health, criticising the circulation of unverified reports and urging the public to respect the family's privacy.
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Florencia Peña apologises and steps down
Following the backlash, Peña issued a public apology and confirmed she had decided to leave her role with Luzu TV.She said she was deeply ashamed of having shared incorrect information and apologised directly to the Messi family for the distress caused.
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.Peña explained that the report had been presented to her as verified information by the programme's production team during the live broadcast.
Despite that, she accepted responsibility for repeating the claim on air.
I apologise again from the heart; I was wrong.Luzu TV later released its own statement, describing the broadcast of sensitive information without proper verification as unacceptable.
The broadcaster confirmed that those responsible had been removed from their positions, whilst Peña had chosen to step aside from the channel.
Messi explains emotional World Cup moment
The incident gained additional attention after Messi appeared visibly emotional during Argentina's win over Algeria.Following his opening goal, television cameras captured the 38-year-old wiping away tears, prompting widespread speculation about his father's health.
However, the Argentina captain later clarified that his emotions were not related to football.
I've had some tough days, but it wasn't related to football.He thanked his team-mates, coaching staff and the wider Argentina delegation for supporting him through a difficult personal period.
Argentina focused on World Cup campaign
Despite the off-field distraction, Argentina's World Cup title defence has started in impressive fashion.Messi's hat-trick helped the reigning champions secure all three points against Algeria and send an early statement to the rest of the tournament.
Argentina will next face Austria before concluding their group-stage campaign against Jordan.
Whether Jorge Messi will be able to attend any of Argentina's remaining matches remains unclear as he continues his recovery.
For now, the Messi family has asked for privacy whilst Jorge undergoes treatment and recuperation.
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