Cristiano Ronaldo will not travel with Al Nassr to Iran for their Asian Champions League match against Esteghlal on Monday amid concerns that he could face punishment under Iranian law.
The Portuguese football star is reportedly at risk of receiving 99 lashes for “adultery” after an incident in 2023, when he hugged and kissed an Iranian artist, Fatemeh Hammami Nasrabadi, on the forehead. Nasrabadi, a disabled artist who paints with her feet, met Ronaldo during Al Nassr’s previous trip to Iran when they played Persepolis.
According to the law of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a man kissing a woman who is not his wife can be considered an act of adultery, which carries a possible punishment of 99 lashes. Because of this, Ronaldo’s club has decided to travel to Iran without him, as Esteghlal refused to play the match on neutral ground.
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Although Iranian authorities have not officially stated whether Ronaldo would be punished if he entered the country, concerns over the legal interpretation of his actions have led Al Nassr to take precautions.
Ronaldo, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, has played for Al Nassr since joining the Saudi club in 2022. The decision to leave him out of the squad for this important knockout match highlights the complexities of cultural and legal differences in international football.