Ben McCrum
Serie A club Lazio have confirmed that they have sacked their mascot holder after bizarre social media posts about his penis surgery.
Every now and then the incredible sport of football produces a story that has to be read several times to be believed.
In the middle of a season that has Nottingham Forest competing for the Premier League title and several of the top players in the world linked with massive transfers, Lazio have been forced to sack their mascot handler rafter he posted videos and pictures following his penis surgery.
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The Italian club confirmed that they had parted ways with Juan Bernabe, the man who was in charge of their eagle mascot, with an official statement on Monday, ending their 15 year relationship.
Falconer Bernabe, who has regularly attended Lazio home matches with club mascot Olympia since the 2010-11 season, posted footage on social media after having penile implant surgery to improve his sexual performance.
Reacting to the social media posts in a club statement, Lazio wrote: "‘SS Lazio Spa, shocked to see the photographic and video images of Mr. Juan Bernabe and to read the statements that accompanied them, announces that it has interrupted, with immediate effect, all relations with this individual, given the seriousness of his behaviour.
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"The Company is aware of the pain, shared by all, that the loss of the eagle in the next home games will cause to the fans, but believes that it is not possible to be associated, all of us, and especially with the historical symbol of the eagle, with a subject that, with its initiative, has made the continuation of the relationship inadmissible."
Despite losing his job, the 53-year-old claimed that he had no regrets about getting the 'wonderful' surgery, or about posting the results on social media.
The Spaniard told Radio24m, via Italian outlet Adnkronos: "‘I’ve never regretted anything, let alone doing it for something that has a medical purpose.
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"I put the video on my private profile so it’s a private thing,’ he said. ‘If people then circulate it what can I do?"
Bernabe previously found himself under pressure in 2021, after he was suspended by Lazio for performing a fascist salute at the end of a match with Inter.
He was filmed by fans after the match making the gesture and later spoke to the Italian media about his admiration for Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.