Incident involves Asencio and three Madrid youth players accused of recording and distributing explicit footage without consent
Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio, along with three former youth players at the club, could face criminal trial following a judge’s decision to formally present charges over the alleged filming and distribution of a sexual video involving a minor.
In a statement released Wednesday by a court in Gran Canaria, the judge confirmed the conclusion of a preliminary investigation into an incident said to have taken place on 15 June 2023 at a private beach club area on the island. The court has now passed the case to prosecutors, who will decide whether to proceed with a trial.
The summary criminal case implicates Asencio and three other Madrid youth players in what the judge described as “filming and distribution of videos of a sexual nature involving a female minor and another young woman”. The women were aged 16 and 18 at the time of the incident and are said to be experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms.
The alleged offences range from “sharing secrets without consent and violating privacy” to “distribution of videos to third parties without the women’s consent,” as well as “the use of minors for pornographic purposes” and “possession of child pornography,” the court said.
While the court did not name the individuals involved, Spanish media have identified the players as Asencio and three Madrid youth players: Andres Garcia, Ferran Ruiz and Juan Rodriguez.
Police involvement in the case began after the mother of the 16-year-old filed a complaint, claiming her daughter had been filmed during a sexual encounter without her knowledge. The minor confirmed that the encounter itself was consensual, but she said she was unaware it had been recorded, and only discovered the existence of the video after it was shared.
The main suspect, whose identity remains unconfirmed in court records, allegedly recorded the encounter and sent the footage to others, sparking a criminal investigation. In September 2023, the three reserve team players were arrested in connection with the case but later released while police their seized phones and analysed data on them.
At the time of the arrests, Real Madrid confirmed that four youth players had been questioned by police over “an alleged release of a private video via WhatsApp”. The club said it would wait for developments in the case before taking further action.
Prosecutors will now assess all available evidence and determine whether to move forward with formal charges and a public trial.
