Real Madrid playmaker Isco has been named as being involved in an alleged sex scandal by a protected witness who had previously implicated David de Gea and Iker Munain.
Spain’s preparations for Euro 2016 were rocked last week as the case came to light, although nothing has yet to be proven at this point with all three individuals innocent until proven guilty.
De Gea has denied all allegations, with his role said to be arranging a sexual encounter between the witness and two Spain Under-21 players in 2012, as part of a wider case into Spanish pornographer Ignacio Allende Fernandez, otherwise known as ‘Torbe’.
Both De Gea and Munain were named in that initial report, although there was uncertainty over the third party, but the witness has now confirmed that it is indeed Isco with her testimony released on the daytime TV show ‘Ana Rosa on Telecinco’.
Below is an extract of the direct questioning of the protected witness by the judge after the initial testimony had been given, as reported by media in Spain on Thursday following the Telecinco program.
Judge: “You say that there was cocaine in the room?”
Witness: “Yes, on one of the bedside tables.”
Judge: “Did the police ask you to name the players in your first statement?”
Witness: “Yes. I seem to remember they did.”
Judge: “And did you give the names of the footballers?”
Witness: “Yes, in the UCRIF (Police unit which deals with Human trafficking and false documentation) in Murcia.”
Judge: “In Murcia? I am asking you because you did not specify that in your statement.”
Judge: “Who were the players involved? I am asking you to corroborate what you are saying.”
Witness: “Iker Muniain, Isco and, as the intermediary, David de Gea.”
Judge: “You have said that these football players assaulted you, is that correct?”
Witness: “Yes.”
Judge: “That you took part in sexual activity, under threat, is that correct?”
Witness: “Yes.”
Judge: “You did not give your consent?”
Witness: “That’s right, nor did the other girl.”
Judge: “Afterwards, did you maintain any kind of relationship with these players?”
Witness: “No. The conversation on WhatsApp was to have proof for the day when I felt brave enough to make a formal complaint.”
Judge: “Of course, in that conversation on WhatsApp, the one with Iker Muniain, did you say that you enjoyed the night which the four of you spent together at the hotel?”
Witness: “I only said that so he would verify that we were really there.”
Judge: “And with De Gea, did you say that if they were to organise a party with five friends, you would be able to attend to all five?”
Witness: “I said that to get information.”
Judge: “Why did you not disclose that to the police or tell the police in Murcia?”
Witness: “I did mention it to them.”
Judge: “No, you only mentioned it in May of this year but not in that first statement in Murcia.”
Witness: “Well obviously because I was in shock and I couldn’t use the images I had saved in an e-mail.”
De Gea, Munain and Isco all played together for Spain in the Under-21 European Championship in Israel in 2013, but the first two have denied any involvement in the case with Isco perhaps likely to follow suit in the coming days having now been named in the statement.