Madrid youth players arrested over private WhatsApp video

Spanish police arrested three Real Madrid youth players on Thursday for allegedly distributing a sexual video that includes a minor at a time of heightened rigidity round sexist behaviour in Spanish soccer.

The players, who will not be minors, have been later launched following a court docket determination and after the info on their cellphones was seized, police stated in an announcement.

Earlier on Thursday, the membership confirmed {that a} participant for its reserve workforce Castilla, and three players for the membership’s third workforce, Real Madrid C, gave proof 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 confirmed the three had been detained on the Real Madrid sports activities complicated in Madrid and a fourth participant was being investigated.

The case stems from a grievance filed by the mom of a 16-year-old lady within the Canary Islands relating to an alleged recording of sexual relations, police stated. They added that whereas the lady maintained the relations have been consensual, the recording passed off in June with out her consent and that she had lately change into conscious of it.

The arrests come amid allegations of sexual abuse towards former soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales, who kissed Spain’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso on the lips final month.

Rubiales resigned on Sunday after weeks of defying requires him to step down, and is because of seem earlier than a choose on Friday. He maintains that the kiss was mutual and consensual.

The three Madrid players that have been arrested are suspected of committing a felony identified in Spanish legal regulation as “revealing secrets of a sexual nature,” a police spokesperson stated.

Information from Reuters was used on this story.