Denying the reports, the Iranian Embassy in Spain has strongly rejected the claims that Cristiano Ronaldo could face punishment in the form of lashing for alleged adultery.
The controversy arose from Iranian media reports, cited by Mundo Deportivo, which alleged that legal action had been initiated against the Al-Nassr forward for pictures showing him embracing international painter Fatima Hamimi.
The incident occurred during Ronaldo’s visit to Iran in September, while the renowned footballer was warmly received by the people and authorities, as affirmed by the Iranian Embassy in Spain.
In a statement, the embassy emphasized, “We strongly deny the issuance of any court ruling against any international athlete in Iran.”
The embassy also expressed concerns about the impact of such unfounded news overshadowing grave violations like crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Palestinian nation.
‘It is worth noting that Cristiano Ronaldo’s visit to Iran in September for an official football match was welcomed by the people and sports authorities. His genuine and compassionate interaction with Fatemeh Hamami was also highly commended by the public and sports authorities of the country.’
During his trip to Tehran with Al-Nassr, Ronaldo, who is in a relationship with Spanish model Georgina Rodriguez, encountered Iranian painter Fatima Hamimi, who presented a specially made picture to him.
Ronaldo’s gesture of giving her a signed shirt and posing for a photo, which included a hug, stirred controversy in Iranian legal circles due to the country’s laws regarding interactions with married women.
It is reported that Hamimi, a devoted fan of Ronaldo, is “85 percent paralyzed.”
An Iranian network, Sharq Emroz, as per Mundo Deportivo, had allegedly claimed that Ronaldo was swiftly sentenced to 99 lashes by the Iranian justice system for the aforementioned photo.
ncG1vNJzZmimlazAr7vWp6CgnaKerm%2B6xmigq5meYsC1vs6nnqWxXZmyr7XErGSrnaCkv7W%2FjJyjmqGdnruoecKroKysmZa7sHnRqKWapJSkeqS71KWbZpqVYsCmutOepZydlGLBsHmYcmSlmaOdsrR5xaipZpmUqrm1sdGyZg%3D%3D