An Argentine broadcaster sparked controversy after reporting, without verification, that the father of the national soccer team captain Lionel Messi had died. The host of the program stepped down, and the network terminated its contract with the production staff.
According to the BBC in the U.K. on the 20th (Korea time), Florencia Peña, a host at the Argentine internet broadcaster Luzu TV, said live on air, "Messi's father, Jorge Messi, died a short while ago." With the North and Central America World Cup underway, the remark spread quickly.
However, it was confirmed to be untrue. Messi's side said, "It is true that his father's health had not been good, but he is currently recovering," denying the report. It added, "Please refrain from speculation about his health and respect his privacy."
Argentine President Javier Milei also criticized it as a "ridiculous remark," adding, "Even if it were true, it would be a matter of personal privacy."
Peña apologized, saying, "I received unverified information and spoke without checking," and announced her departure from the program on the 19th. The broadcaster took follow-up measures, including terminating its contract with the program's responsible officials, including the producer.