Spanish authorities investigate Raul Asencio over child pornography accusations

Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio has been formally indicted by a Spanish court for the alleged distribution of sexual videos that involve a minor. The 22-year-old player who has made himself a first-team regular this season had been charged with serious charges alongside three ex-youth players of the club.A judge in the San Bartolome de Tirajana court in Gran Canaria is accusing all footballers of recording or sharing videos of a sexual nature. The videos were reported to have featured two young girls aged 16 and 18 at the time of the incidents.The first time the case was heard of was in September 2023, when three players were arrested in Real Madrid’s training camp. The arrests were made after a complaint was received from the mother of the 16-year-old girl who also appears in the video.The incident occurred in a beach club in southern Gran Canaria. The police confiscated the mobile phones during the players' arrests. Asencio was first asked as a witness but was further investigated by Spain’s Civil Guard and made a suspect.The scandal has received furious reactions from the fans in different stadiums across Spain. The Barcelona fans sang out “Asencio, to jail” during the recent Clasico game. In a Copa del Rey semi-final at Real Sociedad, the referee stopped the game for a moment when the fans of the home team chanted “Asencio die”.Real Madrid came out with a statement in 2023, which recognized that the players had made statements to the Guardia Civil over “the alleged broadcasting of a private video via WhatsApp”. The club added that they would “take appropriate measures” after they got details about the facts.The case will now be under the attention of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the criminal proceedings will be initiated.The other young players mentioned, together with Asencio, include Ferran Ruiz, Juan Rodriguez, and Andres Garcia. Although the judge did not name off the players accused of which crime, the charges range from violation of privacy, distribution of videos without consent, use of minors for porn purposes, and possession of child pornography.Also Read: Real Madrid's game disrupted by death chants for 'affected' Asencio