Lazio have parted ways with their falconer, the Serie A club said on Monday, after local media reported that he had shared images of his penile implant on social media.
Juan Bernabe, the man in charge of flying the club's eagle mascot before kickoff, was let go after Lazio became aware of the photographs and videos on his social media accounts.
Lazio falconer fired
‼️ | Lazio have fired the clubs falconer, Juan Bernabe, after he underwent penile implant surgery and shared the results on social media. #Lazio pic.twitter.com/2In0TgLuAG
— Italian Football News (@footitalia1) January 13, 2025
Reuters has attempted to contact Bernabe for comment.
Bernabe is the instructor of Olympia, a white-headed eagle Lazio adopted in 2010. Olympia's flight over Rome's Olympic Stadium before matches has become a symbolic moment for fans.
The club said in a statement that they recognized supporters would be disappointed at the eagle's absence from home games.
"The club is aware of the pain the absence of the eagle will cause the fans but it has become impossible to associate our historical symbol with such (an) individual," Lazio said.
Sergej Milkinkovic-Savic puts Lazio's eagle mascot on his arm after the club won their 7️⃣th Coppa Italia pic.twitter.com/VkinGHI2bX
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 15, 2019
Bernabe was in 2021 suspended by Lazio after he was filmed at the stadium cheering for Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.
(Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Ken Ferris)
