Cristiano Ronaldo Could Face '99 lashes' in Iran? Truth Behind Al Nassr Absence For AFC Champions League Explained.
Photo : AP
Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the first leg of the AFC Champions League round of 16 after Al Nassr flew to Tehran without him to face Esteghlal.
Several leading media reports have claimed that Portugal's legend's absence is due to a meeting with a fan in 2023 and complaints from lawyers over an act of ‘adultery’.
Social media users also claimed that Ronaldo was sentenced to corporal punishment in Iran for hugging a female artist.
It all happened in September 2023, when Al Nassr played against another Iranian team, Persepolis. Ronaldo greeted disabled fan Fatemeh Hammami at the team hotel. Hamami is an Iranian artist who paints portraits by holding a brush with her feet. But by touching a married woman, he contravened Iranian law.
With reports claiming that Ronaldo might face prosecution in the form of 99 lashes and that’s why he’s not travelling to the country, the Iranian embassy has refuted claims.
“We strongly deny the issuance of any court ruling against any international athlete in Iran,” a spokesperson of the Iran embassy was quoted as saying by talkSport.
“His sincere and humane meeting with Fatemeh Hamami was also praised and admired by both the people and the country’s sports authorities.”
The Saudi Gazette claims that Ronaldo isn’t in the squad due to muscle fatigue.
In 2023, GOAL.com also quoted Hamami on the matter, refuting media claims.
"Unemployed lawyers made accusations against him without my or my family's permission,” she is quoted as saying.
“In Iran he has committed a crime for hugging me, while we have never had any complaints... I am very grateful to Ronaldo for his love and love towards me. I hope the best happens to him in life and football.
"No one told him anything about the laws of Iran and he didn't know it either, but Ronaldo's hug was for his love and brotherhood, and he had no bad intentions.
“My family and I have no complaints about this issue, we just want to deny these accusations against Cristiano."
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