'Can no longer be associated': Italian football club sacks eagle handler over lewd social media activity
Italian football club Lazio has sacked a man responsible for handling the club's eagle mascot after he posted videos and photos to social media of his prosthetic penis.
Falconer Juan Bernabe, who had attended Lazio home matches with Olympia the eagle since the 2010-11 season, released videos and images of his penis after undergoing surgery to improve his sexual performance.
Lazio said it had "terminated, with immediate effect" its partnership with Bernabe "due to the seriousness of his conduct", while adding it was "shocked" by his social media activity.
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The Serie A franchise lamented the sacking would deprive its fans of Olympia, which Bernabe would fly over the club's Stadio Olimpico before home games.
Juan Bernabe and his eagle. Getty
Emblazoned on the Lazio jerseys is an eagle, which has represented the club for almost the entirety of its 125-year history.
"We, and the historic symbol of the eagle, can no longer be associated with a person who with his behaviour has made the continuation of any relationship impossible," Lazio said.
Bernabe defended his social media activity on Italy's Radio 24, remarking that "nudity is normal" and "I grew up in an open-minded, naturist family".
