Spanish Court Denies Appeal in Case Against Real Madrid Defender

LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA, Spain — A Spanish court has upheld an investigation into Real Madrid defender Raúl Asencio regarding his alleged involvement in the dissemination of an explicit video featuring a minor. The ruling was confirmed on Tuesday by the press office of the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands.

The case against Asencio, 21, stems from a video reportedly recorded in June 2023 by former youth players of Real Madrid during an encounter with two girls, one of whom was underage. Asencio allegedly shared the video with a contact after receiving it on his mobile phone.

The Audiencia Provincial de Las Palmas rejected Asencio’s defense team’s appeal to halt the investigation, siding with a previous ruling from a Gran Canaria court that considered there were sufficient grounds to continue. This decision comes as Real Madrid faces a critical match against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League playoffs.

According to the ongoing investigation, Asencio, along with three other youth players, was detained by police in September 2023. Authorities confiscated their mobile devices in connection with the case. The Madrid club has also acknowledged providing evidence related to the exchange of the private video via WhatsApp.

The incident was brought to light by the mother of a 16-year-old girl in the Canary Islands, who filed a complaint after discovering the circulation of the video. Although the sexual relations depicted were reportedly consensual, the recording itself was made without the girls’ consent.

The Audiencia confirmed that there are implications of both the crime of revealing secrets and possession of child pornography, as Asencio allegedly showed the video to another person. Legal experts assert that such actions could lead to a prison sentence ranging from one to five years.

Asencio has been making regular appearances for Real Madrid this season due to injuries among key defenders. He has played in 21 matches for the first team since his debut last November and is anticipated to be featured in Tuesday’s match against Manchester City.

Asencio’s co-accused, who are former youth players Ferrán Ruiz, Juan Rodríguez, and Andrés García, are no longer affiliated with Real Madrid. The ongoing investigation has put a spotlight on the actions of the players involved, as the football community awaits further developments in the case.