Real Madrid defender Raúl Asencio has been formally indicted by a Spanish court for his alleged involvement in the distribution of a sexual video involving a minor. The 22-year-old player faces charges alongside three former youth players from the club, accused of recording and sharing videos of a sexual nature featuring two young women, one of whom was 16 at the time. The court in Gran Canaria has accused the players of violations including unauthorized disclosure of private content, invasion of privacy, distribution of videos without consent, exploitation of minors for pornographic purposes, and possession of child pornography.
The case originated in 2023 after a complaint was filed by the mother of the minor appearing in the video. In September 2023, Asencio and three others were arrested at Real Madrid’s training center, with their mobile phones confiscated as part of the investigation. Initially questioned as a witness, Asencio later became a suspect as the inquiry progressed. Despite the legal proceedings, he has remained a regular starter for Real Madrid this season.
The scandal has provoked strong reactions from football fans across Spain, with hostile chants directed at Asencio during matches, including at the recent Clasico and a Copa del Rey semi-final, where the game was briefly halted due to fans’ chants. Real Madrid acknowledged the investigation in 2023, stating the involved players had cooperated with authorities and that the club would take appropriate measures once all facts were known.
The case has now been forwarded to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which will decide whether to formally charge the players and proceed to trial or dismiss the case. The three other players implicated alongside Asencio are Ferrán Ruiz, Juan Rodríguez, and Andrés García. The court’s decision marks a significant development in a case that has drawn widespread attention both within Spanish football and beyond.
