A court in Gran Canaria has opened a trial against Real Madrid defender Raúl Asencio and three former youth players, accused of sharing sexual videos without consent. While Asencio is charged with distributing the material, the other three are also accused of recording it without the victims’ permission.
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The Court No. 3 of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, in Gran Canaria, has ruled to open an oral trial against Real Madrid defender Raúl Asencio and three former players from the club’s youth system, Ferrán Ruiz, Juan Rodríguez, and Andrés García.
The four men face serious accusations related to the distribution of sexual videos without the consent of the individuals featured in them. According to the indictment, two young women were affected by the circulation of the recordings, one of them a minor at the time the events allegedly occurred.
The case, which has been under judicial investigation for months, now moves into a decisive phase. The judge has not only accepted the case for trial but has also imposed significant financial guarantees on the accused. The Canary Islands High Court of Justice confirmed that Ruiz, Rodríguez, and García must each post bail of €20,000, while Asencio has been ordered to provide bail of €15,000. These measures are intended to ensure their availability for the trial and any potential future penalties.
The difference in bail amounts reflects the distinct charges brought against the accused. While all four face accusations of distributing the videos without permission, Ruiz, Rodríguez, and García are also accused of having been the original authors of the recordings. According to the investigation, the three allegedly filmed the sexual encounters without the knowledge or consent of the victims and later shared the material, which ultimately reached wider circles. Asencio, meanwhile, is accused only of having taken part in the dissemination of the videos, though this still carries serious legal and reputational consequences.
This case has generated considerable public attention in Spain, not only because of the involvement of a Real Madrid first-team player but also due to the broader societal debate around privacy, digital abuse, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate material. In recent years, Spanish courts have taken a firmer stance on so-called “revenge porn” and related crimes, classifying them under offenses that combine violations of privacy with potential sexual exploitation.
If found guilty, the accused could face substantial prison sentences, financial penalties, and long-term damage to their careers. For Asencio, the only active professional player among the defendants, the case casts a shadow over his future at Real Madrid and within football in general. The club has not yet released an official statement on the matter, though questions are mounting about how such allegations will be handled internally and what disciplinary measures might follow depending on the trial’s outcome.
Legal experts point out that the case highlights the importance of informed consent and the severe consequences of ignoring it. Recording or distributing sexual content without permission is not only a violation of personal dignity but also a criminal act under Spanish law, made even more severe when minors are involved.
The timeline for the trial is expected to be set in the coming months, with both the prosecution and the defense preparing their cases. Meanwhile, the two young women affected by the alleged crimes have been granted anonymity and legal protection throughout the proceedings, as required by Spanish law in cases involving sexual crimes and minors.
Beyond the courtroom, the scandal raises wider concerns about the culture within football academies and professional locker rooms, where young athletes often find themselves under intense scrutiny and pressure. The incident underscores the need for stronger education around issues of privacy, consent, and digital responsibility, particularly among players who are constantly in the public eye and whose actions carry amplified consequences.
For now, the four accused remain free, pending trial, as long as they comply with the financial conditions imposed by the judge. The trial in Gran Canaria will determine not only their personal futures but could also set an important precedent in Spanish sports and legal history regarding how cases of digital sexual abuse are addressed when high-profile athletes are involved.
Updated: 04:38, 18 Sep 2025
