Raul Asencio Acquitted in Sex Video Case

Raul Asencio has been acquitted by a Spanish court of alleged involvement in the recording and distribution of a sexually explicit video involving a minor, drawing a line under a case that has shadowed the Real Madrid defender for more than a year.

A court in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, ruled that the 23-year-old bore no criminal responsibility in a case linked to “the recording and dissemination of a sexually explicit video related to an intimate encounter at a beach club in Gran Canaria in June 2023”. Charges against him were withdrawn, leaving three of his former Real Madrid academy team-mates to face conviction.

Those three players were found guilty of “child pornography” offences. They received one-year suspended prison sentences and were ordered to attend a sexual “re-education” course. The court also imposed a two-year restraining order preventing any contact with the victims, and a three-year ban from working in any profession involving minors.

The victims, two women aged 16 and 18 at the time of the incident, chose to forgive the accused, a key factor in the court issuing minimum sentences.

Asencio: “I have been acquitted”

Once the verdict was delivered, Asencio broke his silence with a lengthy statement, stressing his faith in the legal process and the personal toll of the case.

“Today, after a long period of silence and after respecting a judicial process in which I always had faith, I can say that I have been acquitted,” he said.

“Over these past months I have been through a difficult situation and, at times, I have had to see how information and opinions about me were published before justice had its say.

“I understand and respect the work of the media and the right to report and express opinions, but I also believe it's important to remember that behind every piece of news there is a person and a family who live with the consequences of it.

“I have always trusted that justice would eventually set things right. Today there is a judicial ruling that speaks for itself, and I accept it with peace of mind and with the satisfaction of being able to close a very important chapter in my life.”

The legal acquittal may clear his name in court, but it does not end scrutiny of his behaviour away from the pitch.

Separate drink-driving case prompts club action

While Asencio walks free from the sex video case, he remains under internal investigation at Real Madrid for a separate matter: a drink-driving conviction, also in Gran Canaria.

On 16 August he was found to be more than three times over the legal alcohol limit while driving. The incident led to a fine and an eight-month suspension of his driving licence. Real Madrid have opened disciplinary proceedings, underlining the club’s stance on off-field conduct.

Jose Mourinho, the Real Madrid head coach, did not hide his displeasure when asked about the situation. He confirmed he had addressed the matter with the player but drew a clear line around what he would discuss publicly.

“Raul Asencio, given the situation he found himself in, I talked to him when he arrived and I talked to him about things that happened in the past,” Mourinho said.

“I haven't talked with him since but I don't discuss situations outside Valdebebas.

“His attitude is perfect here. He picked up an injury a few weeks ago and since then, he is first to arrive and last to leave working on his recovery.

“But obviously a Real Madrid player is a Real Madrid player for 24 hours, seven days a week, 12 months a year, so when you do something outside your professional area, it's still Real Madrid and it hurts the club's prestige that is untouchable.

“So I am not happy. We all make errors but no, I'm not happy.”

A player under scrutiny, on and off the pitch

Asencio himself addressed the drink-driving conviction in the same statement in which he welcomed his acquittal, accepting fault without qualification.

“I am deeply sorry for what happened and I fully accept my responsibility,” he said.

“It has been an experience from which I have learned and I am very clear that it will not happen again.

“I don't want to get involved in controversies or look back. I want to close this chapter with respect, with my head held high and with a great desire to move forward. And I [am] absolutely in agreement with my coach: not only on the pitch, but also off it.”

The court has spoken on one case. Real Madrid will now decide how far a second, very different mistake will shape Asencio’s future at the club.