It’s over now with a resignation and a parting shot for live television. Florencia Pena of Luzu TV is out after making the mistake of saying Lionel Messi’s father had passed away. The Messis have since made it clear the 68-year-old is very much alive and being looked after by his doctors.
What the family confirmed
They put out a statement to make no bones about it: Jorge is in treatment, under a doctor’s eye, and things are going well. They were firm in calling the death reports for what they were – nonsense – and asked the media and everyone on socials to show some restraint.
You didn’t have to wait long for a well-known football journalist to back up the family’s side of the story, which did its part in putting a stop to the chatter.
How the error unfolded on air
It all came to light in the aftermath of Argentina’s 3-0 thumping of Algeria. With 38-year-old Messi having just put in a hat trick and looking a bit moved, Pena was on at Luzu TV telling the audience his father was gone and the captain might be done with the tournament.
Being live, the comment went viral in a matter of minutes. The denial was swift, but only after some heads were turned and tempers flared in the first week of the World Cup in Argentina.
Resignation and broadcaster’s response
Under fire, Pena made a public apology to the family. She said she was only relaying what she was given during the show and owned up to not double-checking. That was it for her time at Luzu TV; she’s moving on.
For the network, this was a line crossed. They called it out as a breach of their standards to put something like that on the air without due diligence. There will be some changes in the room, they say, and a renewed focus on vetting before you hit the button.
In short, here is what we know:
– The presenter is out
– Some personnel at the network are being reorganised
– A return to strict verification
– The family has asked for some space
Why it matters for fans and media
It’s a good example of how a hunch about a star can turn into hard misinformation in a hurry. When you’re covering the World Cup and dealing with a player’s family, the onus is on the broadcaster to get it right.
Fans want to know the truth: Jorge is fine and in the hands of his doctors. Newsrooms would do well to remember the old rule: verify first, then let it be known. You can tell from the way Luzu has handled it they’ll be more careful in the future.
What comes next on the pitch
Now it’s back to the game. Argentina have Austria to deal with in the group stage. As for the tears after the Algeria match, Messi put it simply: ‘Why did I cry? It was something completely unrelated to football.’ The team is looking forward, not back at the tabloids.
