By Dorcas Francis Koji
Real Madrid have opened disciplinary proceedings against defender Raul Asencio following his recent conviction for drink-driving, with head coach Jose Mourinho warning that players must understand their responsibilities both on and off the pitch.
The 23-year-old centre-back was convicted after being found driving more than three times above the legal alcohol limit during an incident on August 16 in Gran Canaria.
Asencio was convicted at a court in San Bartolome de Tirajana and fined €14,400, while his driving licence was suspended for eight months, according to a court source.
The disciplinary action comes at a difficult time for the young defender, who is also due to appear in court this week in connection with an alleged case involving the non-consensual sharing of a sexual video dating back to 2023.
Mourinho acknowledged Asencio’s professionalism at the training ground but stressed that representing Real Madrid carries responsibilities that extend beyond football.
“He’s a model professional. When he was fit, no one trained as hard as him,” Mourinho said.
“Now that he’s been injured for a few weeks, he’s the first to arrive and the last to leave training.”
However, the coach made it clear that professionalism during training does not excuse conduct away from the pitch.
“But a Real Madrid player remains so 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 12 months a year,” Mourinho said.
“Everything you do outside the pitch represents Real Madrid and could affect the club’s prestige.”
The coach also expressed his disappointment over Asencio’s recent troubles.
“I’m not happy. Everyone makes mistakes, but when they pile up, it’s not the same,” he added.
The separate court case involving the alleged distribution of the sexual video is scheduled to take place on September 3, 4 and 7.
Three former Real Madrid reserve-team players are also facing trial in connection with allegations that they recorded and distributed the video.
Spanish media reports have suggested that Asencio expects to be cleared in that case if the two young women involved, who were aged 16 and 18 at the time, formally forgive him. The legal proceedings remain ongoing.
Asencio is currently recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in July and has yet to make Mourinho’s matchday squad this season.
The defender enjoyed regular involvement with Real Madrid during the previous two seasons and had established himself as a promising member of the club’s first-team squad.
With disciplinary proceedings now underway alongside his ongoing legal situation and injury recovery, Asencio faces a challenging period as he attempts to rebuild his standing at the Spanish giants.
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