2 September
Spanish reports revealed that Real Madrid defender Raúl Asensio has been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, coinciding with an upcoming court hearing in another case that could carry a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
The most prominent case dates back to the summer of 2023, when a scandalous video of two girls, one of whom was a minor at the time, surfaced during a holiday with several Real Madrid academy players at a beach club on Gran Canaria.
Although Asensio did not participate in filming the video and did not appear in it, the public prosecutor's office accuses him of showing the video to a third party, which led to an investigation into invasion of privacy.
The prosecution has previously requested a sentence of two years, six months, and one day for the Real Madrid defender. The hearing is scheduled for next Thursday in the player's hometown on Gran Canaria.
However, there is still a possibility of avoiding criminal charges, as Spanish law allows for the dismissal of criminal responsibility in such cases if the two victims formally accept Asensio's apology and the public prosecutor's office withdraws its charges against him.
In contrast, legal proceedings continue against three of his former Real Madrid academy teammates—Ferran Ruiz, Andrés García, and Juan Rodríguez—on various charges, and the possibility of dismissing the case through a pardon from the victims does not apply to them.
Asensio's troubles didn't end there, as the newspaper Marca revealed that he was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol.
According to the newspaper, police stopped the player in southern Gran Canaria on August 16th while he was driving, and a breathalyzer test showed a blood alcohol level of 0.90 mg/L, nearly four times the legal limit.
As a result, he was fined €14,400 and had his driver's license suspended for eight months.
Thus, Asensio finds himself facing two legal crises at once, one that ended with his conviction, a fine and the withdrawal of his license, and another that is still open and whose penalty may reach two and a half years in prison, which puts the future of the Real Madrid defender off the field under great pressure.
