Lazio has dismissed their eagle handler, Juan Bernabé, after he shared explicit videos and photos of himself on social media. Bernabé, who has managed the club’s eagle mascot, Olimpia, since the 2010/11 season, posted the content following surgery to implant a penile prosthesis.
The Serie A club issued a statement on Monday confirming Bernabé’s immediate dismissal due to the “seriousness of his conduct” and expressed shock over the incident. Lazio noted that the decision also meant Olimpia would not appear at upcoming home matches, including the Europa League clash with Real Sociedad on January 23.
Bernabé defended his actions, stating in a radio interview that nudity was normal in his open-minded, naturist upbringing.
This isn’t the first controversy involving Bernabé, who was suspended in 2021 for performing a fascist salute and chanting “Duce, Duce” in homage to Benito Mussolini after a match against Inter Milan. Despite the backlash, Bernabé has remained unapologetic about his far-right affiliations. In an interview with Il Messaggero, he expressed admiration for Mussolini and Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, calling their leadership “great” for their respective countries.
Lazio’s hardcore fanbase has long had ties to far-right ideologies, with its connection to extremism dating back to the 1970s.
