Italian Serie A club Lazio has sacked Juan Bernabé, the falconer responsible for handling their iconic eagle mascot, Olimpia, after he shared videos online of his prosthetic penis. Bernabé, who has been with the club since the 2010-11 season, would fly Olimpia across the Stadio Olimpico before matches, a cherished tradition among Lazio fans.

The club issued a statement expressing their shock at the videos and announced that Bernabé had been dismissed with immediate effect. Lazio stated, “It is impossible to associate our historical symbol with such an individual,” referring to the eagle, which holds a central place in the club’s identity and crest.

While Bernabé defended his actions as an effort to raise awareness about the surgical procedure, he explained that the posts were shared on his private social media and insisted that “nudity is normal” due to his upbringing in an open-minded, naturist family.

This isn’t the first time Bernabé has courted controversy. In 2021, he was suspended by Lazio after performing a fascist salute at the end of a match against Inter Milan, chanting “duce, duce,” a reference to Benito Mussolini. At the time, Bernabé defended his actions, stating, “I admire Mussolini; he did great things for Italy, as Franco did for Spain.”

While Lazio acknowledged the disappointment this may bring to fans who cherish Olimpia’s pre-match appearances, the club stood firm in its decision, citing the need to uphold its values.

The incident marks the end of an era for Olimpia’s presence on matchdays, leaving fans and the club to grapple with the fallout from this unexpected turn of events.

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