Sacked Lazio eagle handler visited by police as he refuses to leave | OneFootball

The bizarre case of the Lazio eagle handler sacked for posting intimate pictures continues to drag on, having assured police that he is has not ‘barricaded’ himself in their training ground.

The saga started on January 11 when Juan Bernabé shared photographs of his new penile implant on social media, prompting the club to fire him on Monday evening.

This also means removing him from his lodgings, having lived at the Formello training ground for 15 years during his role as the official falconer in charge of club mascot Olympia.

There were reports that Bernabé had ‘barricaded’ himself into his room and was refusing to leave the complex.

Sacked Lazio eagle handler ‘not barricaded in’

ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 31: SS Lazio’s eagle mascot Olimpya is brought out during the Coppa Italia Primavera match between SS Lazio U19 and Torino U19 at Formello sport centre on January 31, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

“The police visited yesterday, they sent five officers over to check if I really was barricaded in, but I am just calmly sitting in my room,” he told La Zanzara radio show.

“I am being treated very well, I am recovering after the operation. It’s true, they sent me a document saying I had to leave by January 15, but Doctor Antonini – who is responsible for the post-operative treatment – signed a certificate confirming I cannot move.

“I am still in the recovery period, so if I move too much, then I’ll start losing blood.”

The Corriere dello Sport claims Lazio and Bernabé have different versions of how long this medical certificate actually lasts, whether it is 10 days or 30.

Lazio are eager to have him out of the complex and find the international attention garnered by the story highly embarrassing.

On top of everything else, it means the mascot Olympia will no longer fly around the stadium before kick-off in their home matches.

Bernabé has not lost hope of convincing the club to take him back.

“I ask for forgiveness, I only shared those images of a medical procedure.”