Rabat – Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio is scheduled to stand trial in September over the alleged non-consensual sharing of intimate footage involving two women, one of whom was a minor when the events occurred.
The trial is set to take place in Gran Canaria on September 3, 4 and 7. Asencio will appear alongside his former Real Madrid academy teammates Ferran Ruiz, Juan Rodríguez and Andrés García.
A judge at the Penal Court in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria rejected the preliminary objections submitted by lawyers representing the four defendants, allowing the proceedings to continue as scheduled.
The defence teams had sought to exclude evidence obtained from the defendants’ mobile phones, questioning the legality of their seizure and subsequent examination.
The judge dismissed those arguments, ruling that investigators did not require the defendants’ consent to take possession of the devices.
The case concerns intimate footage allegedly recorded without consent during an encounter at a venue in southern Gran Canaria in June 2023 and later distributed to third parties.
Asencio is not accused of participating in the encounter or recording the footage. Prosecutors allege that he requested one of the videos and showed it to another person.
The defender faces two alleged privacy offences.
The other three defendants face more serious allegations related to the recording and distribution of the material, including a charge connected to the distribution of sexual content involving a minor. All four defendants are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless convicted.
Victims must confirm withdrawal in court
Both alleged victims have withdrawn their private accusations against Asencio, but the case has not automatically been terminated.
According to Cadena SER, prosecutors have maintained that the women must formally confirm their forgiveness during the trial. The prosecution has indicated that it could withdraw its request for a prison sentence if Asencio apologizes in court and the women reaffirm their decision.
The public prosecutor had previously requested a sentence of two years and six months for Asencio over the two alleged privacy offences. Prosecutors sought longer sentences for Ruiz, Rodríguez and García because of the additional allegations against them.
Asencio has consistently denied engaging in criminal conduct.
In a statement released in May 2025, the player said he had not participated in any behavior violating the sexual freedom of a woman or minor and expressed confidence in the Spanish courts.
Case dates back to 2023
The investigation began after a complaint was filed in Gran Canaria in September 2023. According to the allegations, the women became aware that footage recorded without their consent had continued to circulate despite requests for its deletion.
Police later visited Real Madrid’s training facilities. Three academy players were arrested, while Asencio was initially questioned as a witness before his status changed to that of a suspect during the investigation.
Courts previously rejected Asencio’s defence attempts to close the case, ruling that witness testimony, telephone records, and digital communications provided sufficient grounds for the proceedings to continue, even though investigators had not recovered every original video file.
Asencio, born in Las Palmas, made his senior Real Madrid debut in November 2024 and has since established himself as a first-team centre-back. He has also received a call-up to the Spanish national team but has not yet made his senior international debut.
The September proceedings will determine whether the charges against Asencio continue after the alleged victims formally state their positions and whether prosecutors maintain their request for a conviction.
