Raúl Asencio of Real Madrid faces two charges in court: 1,8 Promille and a sex video in Gran Canaria

Raúl Asencio of Real Madrid was caught driving in Gran Canaria with a blood alcohol level of 0.9 milligrams per litre of breath. This is equivalent to approximately 1.8 per mille. The professional footballer is already known to the courts on his home island. Another case is currently pending against Asencio.

The 23-year-old is said to have been driving a Porsche on his home island. On the night of 16 August, he was pulled over during a routine check in San Bartolomé de Tirajana. The officers found that his blood alcohol level was significantly above the legal limit. The limit is 0.25 mg/l. From 0.6 mg/l onwards, driving is considered a criminal offence rather than a minor offence.

The centre-back subsequently agreed to a fast-track trial and pleaded guilty to the offence. However, this is not the only case against the Spanish international:

Raúl Asencio: Real Madrid player faces two court cases

Raúl Asencio quickly resolved the drink-driving charge. In summary proceedings, he accepted a fine of 14,400 euros and an eight-month driving ban. The penalty consisted of 120 daily rates of 120 euros each. The judgement is already final. However, there is another case pending.

The professional footballer from Gran Canaria had been charged by the public prosecutor’s office in Las Palmas. The public prosecutor’s office has now announced that it will drop the case against Asencio if the two victims accept his apology and confirm this during the hearing in court. The trial is due to begin on Thursday before the Criminal Division of the Court in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It will be presided over by Judge Virginia Peña Hernández, and the hearing will continue on 4 and 7 September.

Alongside Asencio, three former players from the reserve team of Spain’s most successful football club are standing trial: Ferrán Ruiz, Juan Rodríguez and Andrés García. The allegations date back to 15 June 2023. At the time, the players were at a beach club in Amadores, in the municipality of Mogán.

According to the prosecution, two of the defendants are alleged to have had consensual sexual intercourse with a girl who was a minor at the time, whilst a third is alleged to have had sexual intercourse with a second woman. Two of them filmed and photographed the encounters without the consent of the two women. The material was later passed on to third parties via messaging services.

Raúl Asencio is alleged to have shown a compromising video from Gran Canaria to third parties

During the investigation, Andrés García voluntarily admitted to having been involved in the recording. According to the prosecution, Asencio did not intervene, but requested the video a few days later and showed it to an acquaintance. The professional footballer is accused of having done so even though he is alleged to have known that the material had been recorded without the women’s consent.

Asencio has therefore been provisionally charged with two offences. The prosecution is seeking a prison sentence of two years, six months and one day, as well as a fine. The footballer can only avoid this if the two women accept his apology and confirm this.

A night out in Gran Canaria ends with the prospect of prison sentences for Real Madrid players

For Ferrán Ruiz, Juan Rodríguez and Andrés García, the prosecution is seeking four years and seven months‘ imprisonment for each, a six-year restraining order requiring them to stay at least 500 metres away from the victims, and 25,000 euros in compensation for each.

In addition to offences against sexual integrity, the defendant is also charged with the distribution of child pornography under Section 189 of the Criminal Code, as one of the two young women was a minor at the time. According to the indictment, both victims have been suffering from, amongst other things, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since the offences were committed.

Under Spanish criminal law, an apology is only permitted in the case of certain offences. One of the conditions is that the victim must grant it of their own free will before the judgement is handed down and confirm it before the judge. However, it cannot be applied to the distribution of child pornography, as this offence is prosecuted ex officio.

The three former teammates will therefore remain charged, regardless of the outcome of the application. In June, Public Prosecutor Mercedes Gil Castillo had announced that she would only accept the waiver if it were declared during the trial itself «freely, spontaneously and unconditionally».

For Asencio, this marks the start of a critical few weeks. The defensive specialist is currently not on the books at his club. Whilst rumours suggest that Real Madrid have granted him a leave of absence for the duration of the legal proceedings, he is officially recovering from a shin injury sustained last season, which is said to have flared up again.