Cristiano Ronaldo did not miss Al-Nassr's clash with Iranian side Esteghlal due to claims he would face 99 lashes for adultery, the country's embassy has claimed.
The Portuguese superstar missed his side's trip to Tehran in the Asian Champions League on Monday. It follows Ronaldo also missing the Saudi side's clash with Persepolis, also based in Tehran, last month.
The 40-year-old has captained Al-Nassr in three Saudi Pro League matches that came in between the continental cup matches. It had previously been reported that Ronaldo would face '99 lashes for adultery' after an interaction with a disabled fan.
Ronaldo met with Iranian painter Fatima Hamami in 2023, and greeted her with a hug and a kiss. That saw him break Iranian law it is said, as touching a married woman is considered to be adulterous.
A spokesperson from the nation's embassy has refuted such claims, however. They even went as far as to praise the interaction between Ronaldo and Hamami, declaring it 'sincere'.
"We strongly deny the issuance of any court ruling against any international athlete in Iran," they told talkSPORT. "His sincere and humane meeting with Fatima Hamami was also praised and admired by both the people and the country's sports authorities."
Reports in Saudi Arabia have suggested Ronaldo actually missed the clash due to muscle fatigue. Al-Nassr earned a goalless draw against Esteghlal as January signing from Aston Villa Jhon Duran started up front, and was supported by Sadio Mane in the first-leg fixture.
Amid the initial claims that Ronaldo was set to face a punishment, Hamami, who paints with her feet, defended the ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid forward. Their meeting saw the artist present a portrait of the player, while Ronaldo offered one of his shirts.
Hamami expressed her appreciation for their interaction. "Unemployed lawyers made accusations against him without my or my family's permission," she said 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."
dupcdelopz
0
Lets call a spade a spade if usually Iranian law says it’s adulterous whether they knew their actions or not it’s still adulterous just because it’s Cr7 a public figure and now the country are afraid of backlash and a ‘negative’ image from the world, because if it was someone else they would have gotten the lashes. So these countries should own up and say yes it’s our belief and not act like hypocrites, this is your law your culture it what makes you You whether we agree or not
do you know that you are a very big fool, why don't you punish him by yourself idiot.
dupcdelopz
1
your good heart have landed you in trouble Cr7 my 🐐 goat.
rawdelmoty
0
Rubbish
ALNASSR
0
We get it that country wants to be attention
Moschino™
0
Cr7 was.supposed to receive severe punishment.by.lranian.laws.because he took.the.laws like.1000.goals.he.is a.polygamist he does not.have respect.towards.married.women
KEEP AT IT, KEYBOARD WARRIOR! 🤣
Los_Blancos09
0
Best response, Some people read but don’t understand
this idiot is fishing 🎣
omochris
1
CR7 never had any issue with the Iranian government, it is the media busy wallowing in hypocrisy. Rubbish.
Diebeloprs
0
Ronaldo is a rap**t. When it comes to women, he can go to any length
you are a fool to say such things about Ronaldo
Banaceiou
0
Cr7 was.supposed to receive severe punishment.by.lranian.laws.because he took.the.laws like.1000.goals.he.is a.polygamist he does not.have respect.towards.married.women
nonsense
Yapalmotyz
0
hello CATHYRYN MAYORGA.
blacknight8235IN
1
stfu idiot 😂😂😂😂
Best response, Some people read but don’t understand
Los_Blancos09
0
Messi fans would rather their goat kiss and fk a man than hug and kiss a disabled woman.
100% correct
Los_Blancos09
0
Cr7 was.supposed to receive severe punishment.by.lranian.laws.because he took.the.laws like.1000.goals.he.is a.polygamist he does not.have respect.towards.married.women
stfu idiot 😂😂😂😂
GopsAmeshu
0
His fans make up stories to gain sympathy for him like always... Rigged Rigged crying fanbase.
reuailort
0
With all the money he has, all "love" he claims to have for his girlfriend, all the praises he has for her, and everything he says he has for her, has he been able to marry her? Is he not committing fornication?
what is fornication. ? a man who is accepted by a woman's family and you call it fornication. religious people will mislead but our common sense will tell us right. we all read and heard that God created Adam and Eve and they gave birth to cane and Abel. cane killed his brother and flee away to north of garden of Eden but met people over there. the question is who created those people? I rest my case
Muadilmyz
1
Cr7 was.supposed to receive severe punishment.by.lranian.laws.because he took.the.laws like.1000.goals.he.is a.polygamist he does not.have respect.towards.married.women
adedefender
0
Messi fans would rather their goat kiss and fk a man than hug and kiss a disabled woman.
Hahahaha...
wibeiklpt
0
Ronaldo is a rap**t. When it comes to women, he can go to any length
use ur head. and stop talking nonsense
Jeabekoryz
0
Jeabekoryz
2
123467789
nuocimopu
5
Messi fans would rather their goat kiss and fk a man than hug and kiss a disabled woman.
Megamiracle
0
With all the money he has, all "love" he claims to have for his girlfriend, all the praises he has for her, and everything he says he has for her, has he been able to marry her? Is he not committing fornication?
ikpu nnegi there
Moocdlmnot
2
With all the money he has, all "love" he claims to have for his girlfriend, all the praises he has for her, and everything he says he has for her, has he been able to marry her? Is he not committing fornication?
Newbmprsz
1
That is what you get when you refused to quit when it honorable just because you fear Messi will strip you off the goal record which is that things you have, look at the embarrassment at national team and at utd putting you on the bench just to tell you how much things have change for you. Messi retied from international football before his nation begged him to return which show they actually wants him but Portugal had done everything possible but this guys just will not go away, Cristiano fear retirement more than death just because of Messi
Stop being a sisy and appreciate other people's effort I bet u have nothing just jealousy paranoid sisy
fupceiluyz
6
Let them dare touch the GOAT of football and we shall support Donald Trump when he decides to bomb them back to the stone age where they belong.😡🤮😡🤮😡🤮😡🤮
Zaeaiklnpu
2
Ronaldo is a rap**t. When it comes to women, he can go to any length
Vudcdipstu
0
Lets call a spade a spade if usually Iranian law says it’s adulterous whether they knew their actions or not it’s still adulterous just because it’s Cr7 a public figure and now the country are afraid of backlash and a ‘negative’ image from the world, because if it was someone else they would have gotten the lashes. So these countries should own up and say yes it’s our belief and not act like hypocrites, this is your law your culture it what makes you You whether we agree or not
you're right ✅️
Vudcdipstu
0
That is what you get when you refused to quit when it honorable just because you fear Messi will strip you off the goal record which is that things you have, look at the embarrassment at national team and at utd putting you on the bench just to tell you how much things have change for you. Messi retied from international football before his nation begged him to return which show they actually wants him but Portugal had done everything possible but this guys just will not go away, Cristiano fear retirement more than death just because of Messi
putimopruy
1
That is what you get when you refused to quit when it honorable just because you fear Messi will strip you off the goal record which is that things you have, look at the embarrassment at national team and at utd putting you on the bench just to tell you how much things have change for you. Messi retied from international football before his nation begged him to return which show they actually wants him but Portugal had done everything possible but this guys just will not go away, Cristiano fear retirement more than death just because of Messi
sedbdeimpt
1
Lets call a spade a spade if usually Iranian law says it’s adulterous whether they knew their actions or not it’s still adulterous just because it’s Cr7 a public figure and now the country are afraid of backlash and a ‘negative’ image from the world, because if it was someone else they would have gotten the lashes. So these countries should own up and say yes it’s our belief and not act like hypocrites, this is your law your culture it what makes you You whether we agree or not
Naoadntyz
4
that lawyer by the look of things He's unemployed
fadbcknprz
5
seeking for attention...poor lawyers indeed....CR7 is a role model and blessings to humanity...Good bless you R7