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Cristiano Ronaldo was absent from Al-Nassr’s trip to Iran in the Asian Champions League, with reports initially suggesting he was set to face punishment for adultery
Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence from Al-Nassr’s recent match in Tehran wasn’t due to the alleged threat of receiving 99 lashes for adultery.
The football megastar didn’t show up for his team’s Asian Champions League game against Iranian outfit Esteghlal this Monday. Remarkably, the Manchester United legend had also sat out an earlier game in Tehran against Persepolis last month.
Between these matches, Ronaldo captained Al-Nassr in three Saudi Pro League fixtures. Rumours had been swirling that he faced a punishment of ’99 lashes for adultery’ based on an interaction with a disabled fan, postulating a breach of Iranian law.
In 2023, Ronaldo engaged with Iranian artist Fatima Hamami, sharing a hug and a kiss, which reportedly ran afoul of the strict rules in Iran as it involves contact with a married woman.
Nonetheless, talkSPORT has been informed by a spokesperson from Iran’s embassy that there’s no truth to the legal repercussions for any international athletes. They lauded the encounter between Ronaldo and Hamami, appreciating it as heartfelt and warm-hearted, reports the Mirror.
“We strongly deny the issuance of any court ruling against any international athlete in Iran,” the spokesperson said. “His sincere and humane meeting with Fatima Hamami was also praised and admired by both the people and the country’s sports authorities.”
According to reports from Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo’s absence from Al-Nassr’s stalemate with Esteghlal was due to muscle fatigue. In a fixture lacking goals, Jhon Duran, recently signed from Aston Villa, led the line, while Sadio Mane provided support in their first-leg encounter.
Despite whispers of potential repercussions for Ronaldo, the Paralympian painter Hamami, who creates art with her feet, has stepped up in defence of the global football icon after their recent meet-up, where she gifted him a portrait and he presented her with a shirt.
Hamami spoke warmly of their meeting: “Unemployed lawyers made accusations against him without my or my family’s permission,” she pointed out in 2023.
“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.”
