Falconer axed over fascist support at football match blames his ‘right-wing culture’, proudly praises dictators Mussolini & Franco

A man who was suspended for fascist symbolism while looking after Italian club Lazio's resident eagle said he acted on "impulse", adding that he is right wing and "proud" to admire dictators Benito Mussolini and Francisco Franco.

Spaniard Juan Bernabe has taken charge of flying the Rome giants' white-headed eagle mascot, called Olimpia, around their famous Stadio Olimpico home stadium ahead of kick-off before matches.

Following a 3-1 victory over current Serie A holders Inter Milan, though, Bernabe was caught on camera chanting 'Duce, Duce' – a tribute to National Fascist Party founder, dictator and ex-Italian prime minister Mussolini – to supporters in the Tribuna Tevere section.

In the clip that has circulated on social media, Bernabe also appeared to make a fascist salute.

Juan Bernabè, the eagle trainer who works at Lazio, was filmed giving the fascist salute to fans at the Olímpico and has now been suspended by the club. ???? pic.twitter.com/EzxOS6eOfd

— FutbolBible (@FutbolBible) October 20, 2021

Lazio issued a statement appearing to shun being associated with Bernabe and announcing his suspension in the aftermath of the incident.

He has now bizarrely appeared to claim his misunderstanding came about because of a subtle difference in salutes in Spain and Italy, adding an apparent attempt to distance himself from racism despite the nature of the gestures.

"I don't know why all this chaos has broken out," Bernabe protested in an interview with Messaggero.

"It has nothing to do with Lazio and for this I am sorry. For me, it is a military salute.

"I was born into the army. I have a right-wing culture; I am from the Vox party [a conservative group in Spain identified by some as far-right], like many football friends, and I am proud of it."

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"In Spain, the fascist gesture is done with the arm bent on the heart at chest level. In Italy apparently it is also like this – I did not know," Bernabe claimed, while also not hiding from his affiliations.

"I did it, it's true: I don't deny it because I respect Mussolini. He did so many great things for Italy, as well as Franco in Spain.

"I'm an admirer of both and I'm proud of it. I am a man who has relationships with all races, who has traveled the world, who does business all over the world."

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Bernabe also claimed not to have received any notice of his suspension from Lazio yet.

"I'm waiting for it," he said. "It's in the air. I already know it informally and it's right. I am responsible for what I did. It was an impulse linked to the post-match euphoria after a great win.

"I didn't know that way of celebrating was forbidden in your country, otherwise I wouldn't have done it. I didn't want to put Lazio in difficulty.

"I am here, I am a man and, as such, [I am] ready to pay the consequences immediately."

Lazio face Marseille in the Europa League on Thursday, when Olimpia could make an appearance flown by a new falconer.

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