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Asencio said he would defend himself if the case were taken to trial.
Real Madrid’s Raul Asencio was indicted for alleged involvement in child pornography (AP)
Innocent till proven guilty — that is the belief that Real Madrid’s Raul Asencio is currently resorting to, after he emphasised that a presumption of innocence “must continue to prevail” after he was indicted in a case involving child pornography.
Asencio was indicted along with three former youth players at the club for alleged distribution of a sexual video involving a minor, Spanish media reported.
In September 2023, three unnamed players were arrested at Real Madrid’s training centre following a complaint lodged by the mother of the 16-year-old girl who appears in the video.
The judge at the San Bartolome de Tirajana court in Gran Canaria is prosecuting “four footballers” for their alleged involvement in “the recording or non-consensual dissemination of videos of a sexual nature involving a minor and another young girl”, aged 16 and 18 respectively at the time, as per reports from AFP and The Athletic.
The judge did not mention Asencio by name, nor specify which player is accused of which misdemeanour.
“I have not participated in any behaviour that infringes upon the sexual freedom of any woman, much less minors,” said Asencio in a statement.
“This is confirmed by the resolution issued by the… court, which does not accuse me of having engaged in sexual relations with the two women involved, nor of having recorded them, with or without their consent.
“Likewise, the court order clarifies that I was not the one who sent any intimate images or videos to third parties, which, I reiterate, were recorded in a place different from where I was.”
Asencio said he would defend himself if the case were taken to trial.
“The indictment formulated against me, as expressly indicated by the judicial resolution itself, has a strictly provisional nature,” continued Asencio.
“The presumption of innocence must continue to prevail.
“In the event that charges are eventually made and a trial is opened, I will continue to defend myself before the courts and tribunals, in which I maintain full confidence, reaffirming my detachment from any criminal conduct.”
Fans at various stadiums around Spain have jeered Asencio, with some Barcelona fans chanting “Asencio, to jail” during the Clasico on Sunday.
Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey semi-final win at Real Sociedad in February was briefly paused by the referee after home fans chanted “Asencio die”.
(with agency inputs)
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