- Cristiano Ronaldo missed Al-Narr’s trip to Esteghlal in Iran on Monday night
- The Iranian embassy has denied it was due to him facing 99 lashes for ‘adultery’
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Cristiano Ronaldo did not miss Al-Nassr’s trip to Iran due to facing 99 lashes in the country for ‘adultery’, the nation’s embassy has claimed.
Ronaldo was a conspicuous absence from Al-Nassr’s squad on Monday night as they travelled to Esteghlal in Iran’s capital, Tehran, in the Asian Champions League.
It had previously been reported that Ronaldo would face 99 lashes in Iran after an encounter with a disabled fan in September 2023.
Ronaldo had greeted Iranian painter Fatima Hamimi with a hug and a kiss, but in doing so broke Iranian law, as touching a married woman is considered to be adulterous.
However, a spokesperson at the Iranian embassy has shot down claims that Ronaldo would have faced the whippings – despite him also missing his side’s trip to Persepolis in February.
‘We strongly deny the issuance of any court ruling against any international athlete in Iran,’ a spokesperson told talkSPORT.
The Iranian embassy has denied that Cristiano Roandlo faces 99 lashes there for ‘adultery’
He hugged painter Fatima Hamimi in 2023 – touching a married woman is considered adultery
Ronaldo was left out of Al-Nassr’s squad which played in Iran on Monday night in the Asian Champions League
‘His sincere and humane meeting with Fatima Hamami was also praised and admired by both the people and the country’s sports authorities.’
The Saudi Gazette has reported that Ronaldo actually missed out on the trip due to muscle fatigue.
Ronaldo, 40, has played 30 matches in all competitions this season, scoring 25 goals and setting up a further four. Al-Nassr drew 0-0 without him on Monday night.
In 2023, Iranian network Sharq Emroz, as per Mundo Deportivo, claimed that a large number of lawyers in Iran filed complaints over Ronaldo’s interaction with painter Hamima.
Hamima, who paints with her feet, has done many portraits of Ronaldo, and smiled as he gave her a hug on their meeting 18 months ago.
It’s said Ronaldo kissed her on the cheek and gave her a signed shirt, while he also posed for a photo in which he hugs her.
At that time, it was reported that Ronaldo would be arrested if he entered Iran again.
But Hamima said in 2023: ‘Unemployed lawyers made accusations against him without my or my family’s permission.
‘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.’
