Raul Asencio’s three-year legal ordeal reaches key stage in Gran Canaria video case

Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio could avoid a prison sentence if the two alleged victims formally accept an apology, with a court hearing in his home island of Gran Canaria due to take place on Thursday.

The prosecution in Spain has requested a sentence of two and a half years in prison for Asencio, but has also opened a possible route for the case against him to be discontinued if the victims accept his apology.

Unless there are unforeseen circumstances, Asencio is expected to appear before San Bartolome de Tirajana court at 09:00 local time on Thursday. He is hoping to be cleared of an alleged privacy offence linked to the display of an explicit video.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, Asencio is currently recovering from physical problems that affected him at the start of the season and is taking a break from football while the legal proceedings continue.

The video allegedly shows a young woman who was a minor at the time, alongside another woman and three former colleagues from the Real Madrid youth academy: Ferran Ruiz, Andres Garcia and Juan Rodriguez.

The incident dates back to the summer of 2023, when the players were spending several days of their holiday at a beach club in the south of Gran Canaria.

Asencio did not take part in the recording and did not appear in the explicit images captured at the venue. However, he is accused of showing the video to a third party, which led to a report being made to the authorities.

Under Spanish law, the alleged offences against privacy are classed as semi-public crimes. In such cases, the accusations or criminal liability may be withdrawn after the victims have formally accepted an apology.

For that to happen, the acceptance of the apology by both women shown in the video must be officially documented. The prosecution would then be expected to withdraw the charges against Asencio, unless unexpected developments arise, removing any criminal responsibility for the Real Madrid defender.

The proceedings against Ruiz, Garcia and Rodriguez are continuing. The alleged forgiveness of the victims is not being considered in their cases because the offences they are accused of are different. They are alleged to have distributed child pornography.

The prosecution does not regard the victims’ forgiveness as a mitigating factor in those proceedings.

The young woman who appeared in the video told AS in an exclusive interview: “No one will make me feel guilty. It’s their fault”.

Asencio’s case has remained unresolved for three years and Thursday’s hearing could determine whether he is cleared or remains exposed to the prison sentence sought by prosecutors. The hearing will take place in the defender’s native Gran Canaria, where the events are alleged to have occurred.