An emotional on-air blunder has cost a high-profile broadcaster her job, after she wrongly claimed that football legend Lionel Messi’s father had passed away in the middle of the World Cup.
Panic spread among fans after presenter Florencia Peña made the false claim live on Luzu TV IS El Show del Verano, telling viewers: “I don’t want to break bad news, but Messi’s father just died.”
She went on to add: “Right in the middle of the World Cup, he’s going to have to leave.”
As speculation intensified across SOCIAL MEDIA Peña attempted to walk back her comments moments later, saying: “There are a lot of rumors, it’s all over Twitter, it’s not confirmed by any media outlet, we’re clarifying this just in case.”
Panic spread among fans during Argentina’s World Cup campaign after it was claimed Messi’s dad had died (Instagram/Jorge Messi)
By Thursday evening (June 18), Peña had announced her resignation from the broadcaster altogether.
