An Italian professional soccer team has let go of its falconer after he shared images of his prosthetic penis on social media following surgery for a penile implant, as reported by both the club and various media sources.

On Monday, Società Sportiva Lazio (SS Lazio), based in Rome, expressed shock at discovering the photos of Juan Bernabè and announced his immediate termination from the club.

At 56 years old, Bernabè posted the explicit images on his private social media profiles. According to reports from outlets such as the Associated Press and the Athletic, one of his posts included the comment “a wonderful operation,” featuring a photo of him at the Nuova Villa Claudia clinic in Rome, with his genitalia visible beneath a bedsheet.

The club acknowledged that fans might be upset about the absence of the eagle during upcoming home matches.

This eagle, a symbol of ancient Rome, typically flies over Stadio Olimpico before SS Lazio’s home games. Bernabè has been training Olympia, a white-headed eagle that SS Lazio adopted in 2010, as reported by Reuters.

Juan Bernabè: ‘I’ve never regretted anything’

In an interview on the Italian radio program “La Zanzara” on Monday, Bernabè discussed the reasons for his surgery and his feelings about posting explicit photos.

During the interview with journalist Giuseppe Cruciani, Bernabè revealed that he underwent the procedure for personal, non-medical reasons, specifically for sexual enjoyment.

When asked if he regretted sharing the images that got him fired, Bernabè replied, “Absolutely not,” as per the Athletic.

“I have no regrets about anything, especially regarding a medical procedure,” Bernabè stated to the Athletic. “Nudity is natural for me. I was raised in an open-minded naturist family. I don’t see what’s pornographic about the image.”

Juan Bernabè Performed a Fascist Salute in 2021

In 2021, SS Lazio suspended Bernabè after he was seen making a fascist salute at the end of a match while chanting “Duce, Duce,” which references the title for the former fascist leader Benito Mussolini, according to the Associated Press.

During the radio interview on Monday, Bernabè expressed his admiration for Mussolini, saying, “I admire him so much,” according to the AP.