MADRID-SPAIN: A rising football star at Real Madrid, Raul Asencio, is facing serious legal trouble, as Spanish prosecutors have requested a four-year prison sentence and a €58,000 fine over his alleged involvement in the distribution of an explicit video involving a minor.
Asencio, who gained prominence this season and started both legs of the Champions League semi-finals against Arsenal, is accused of sharing a sexually explicit video of a 16-year-old girl, a video she reportedly did not consent to being recorded or shared.
According to Spanish outlet AS, the video was originally recorded by three of Asencio’s former youth teammates, Ferran Ruiz (22), Andrés Garcia (22), and Juan Rodriguez (23) in June 2023. It allegedly involved both the 16-year-old and another woman who was 18 at the time.
All four players were arrested in September 2023 at Real Madrid’s training ground after the minor’s mother filed a police report. Prosecutors say the group shared the video without the girls’ knowledge, violating privacy laws and Spain’s strict regulations against child pornography.
Legal documents state the women involved are now showing symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Prosecutors are demanding £48,900 in damages for the 16-year-old and daily fines for emotional trauma.
The Spanish court cited Article 197 of the Criminal Code, which mandates prison terms of 3.5 to 5 years for anyone found guilty of recording and distributing explicit content involving minors without consent.
Asencio continues to deny all charges, maintaining that he had no role in the recording or distribution of the video. The case remains under intense scrutiny as trial proceedings develop.
