Real Madrid Player Facing Child Pornography Charges for Alleged Sharing of Explicit Video with Minors, Court Approves Criminal Trial Option

Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio has been accused of distribution of child pornography, with a court in Spain formalising criminal proceedings. 

The 22-year-old is set to face charges after a police investigation was concluded – along with three former team-mates from the Real youth side. 

He has been charged with requesting a video that Ferran Ruiz, Andres Garcia, and Juan Rodriguez filmed in June 2023. The video purportedly depicted his teammates engaging in sexual activities with a woman and an underage girl, aged 18 and 16 at the time.

The accused players, aged between 20 and 21 during the incident, now potentially face charges related to the distribution of child pornography for allegedly circulating the video via WhatsApp.

As per the court’s decision, both women exhibit symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder, as reported by AS. The investigation’s findings will be provided to them for consideration regarding whether they wish to pursue legal action.

If this proves to be the case, then the prosecutor’s office can file charges and request a criminal trial, or the prosecutor’s office can press ahead of their own volition. 

Raul Asencio and three other former Real Madrid youth team players have been investigated

The defender is alleged to have solicited a video allegedly filmed of an underage girl having sex

The 22-year-old star has made his breakthrough this season and was also called up by Spain

The judge at the Gran Canaria High Court said there was enough evidence to support allegations of violation of privacy, distribution of videos to third parties without the victims’ knowledge or consent, solicitation of a minor for pornographic purposes and possession of child pornography.

Article 197 of Spain’s Criminal Code states that any individual found guilty of recording and sharing an explicit video of a minor will face between three-and-a-half and five years in prison.

This would drop to a two-and-a-half to four-year prison sentence if found guilty of non-consensual recording.

If Asencio is found guilty of only sharing the video the sentence would be expected to be less severe.

The authorities confirmed charges were filed by the mother of the 16-year-old girl over the alleged non-consensual filming of her daughter. 

The complainant has stated that the sexual activity was consensual, but the recording of it was not.

Asencio and the three other players were arrested after the alleged incident in 2023 and had their phones taken by police. 

Asencio tried to have his part in the case dismissed back in February by appealing to end the investigation into his alleged role, however the judge decided to uphold the decision to move ahead with the inquiry. 

The highly-rated Spanish defender has played 22 games for Carlo Ancelotti’s side this season

He is in a relationship with Spanish influencer Selenia Suarez, who is unrelated to the case

Now 22, Asencio has had his breakthrough campaign at Real this season and spoke about the allegations after being called up to the Spain national team for the first time. 

Last month he told RTVE: ‘I think everyone is aware of what they are doing. For that reason, I am very calm. 

‘So, well, live day by day. In the end, it’s a matter of deadlines. I have noticed this change of pressure on the pitches. 

‘It’s logical, with the change of category (after Spain call-up). I’m a person who likes and is motivated by feeling that pressure. Since I was a kid, I’m used to feeling that pressure at Real Madrid. It makes me even more motivated.’

He has played 22 games for Carlo Ancelotti’s side this season in a disappointing campaign for Los Blancos that looks set to finish without silverware. 

In February, Asencio went public on his relationship with Spanish influencer Selenia Suarez, who regularly attends the Bernabeu to watch him and is unrelated to the criminal case.