Controversy Surrounds Cristiano Ronaldo’s Iran Visit: Threat of ’99 Lashes for Adultery’ Over Innocent Photo

The next time Cristiano Ronaldo travels to Iran, he may be sentenced to “99 lashes for adultery” due to a picture he took with a female painter.

The Al-Nassr star allegedly has a huge number of Iranian attorneys complaining about him because of a photo that was shot in September during the Portugal captain’s visit, according to the Spanish sports publication Mundo Deportivo.

In September, Ronaldo travelled to Tehran, the capital of Iran, with Al-Nassr to play Persepolis in the group stage of the Asian Champions League. Ronaldo is dating Spanish model Georgina Rodriguez.

While there, the Portuguese international met Iranian painter Fatima Hamimi, who wanted to give a picture to the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, which she made especially for him.

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 hugged her, which has attracted the ire of Iranian lawyers.

This is because in Iranian law, touching a woman is equivalent to adultery.

Hamimi is said to be ’85 percent paralysed’ and is a big fan of the Portuguese star.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Iranian legal system reacted swiftly to the picture of the couple and condemned Ronaldo to 99 lashes the next time he visits Iran, according to Iranian network Sharq Emroz. Al-Nassr is a participant in the Asian Champions League’s group stage.

They are in Group E with the Iranian team Persepolis, the Qatari team Al-Duhail, and the Takikistani team Istiklol. In this stage of the competition, he won’t return to Iran, but it’s not impossible that he might have to do so if they go to the knockout rounds.

According to reports, if Ronaldo accomplishes this, Iranian officials may detain him and make him serve the term.

However, as reported by Marca, the sentence could be forgiven by a judge if ‘the acts are not punishable or Ronaldo shows remorse’.