Spanish law enforcement detained three youth players affiliated with Real Madrid on Thursday on allegations of distributing a sexual video involving a minor, during a period when there has been increased concern about gender-related misconduct in Spanish soccer.
According to a police statement, the players, all of whom are adults, were subsequently released following a court ruling and the confiscation of data from their mobile phones.
Earlier Thursday, the club confirmed that a player for their reserve team, Castilla, and three players for the club’s third team, Real Madrid C, gave evidence to Spanish police over “the sharing of a private video on WhatsApp.”
“Real Madrid announced that it has been made aware that a Castilla player and three Real Madrid C players gave statements to [Spain’s militarised national police force], the Guardia Civil, in relation to the supposed sharing of a private video via WhatsApp,” the club said in a statement.
“When the club has detailed knowledge of the facts, it will take the appropriate measures.”
Police have confirmed that the three individuals were apprehended at the Real Madrid sports complex in Madrid, and an investigation is underway regarding a fourth player.
The incident originated from a complaint filed by the mother of a 16-year-old girl in the Canary Islands concerning an alleged recording of sexual activities. According to the police, although the girl stated that the activities were consensual, the recording was made without her consent in June, and she only recently became aware of it.
These arrests come amidst allegations of sexual assault involving former soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales, who kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips last month following Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup.
Rubiales resigned on Sunday after resisting calls to step down for weeks, and he is scheduled to appear before a judge on Friday. He continues to assert that the kiss was mutual and consensual.
The three Madrid players who were arrested are suspected of committing a felony known in Spanish criminal law as “revealing secrets of a sexual nature,” a police spokesperson said.