Editor’s note: The Iranian embassy in Spain has denied that there is any pending action against Cristiano Ronaldo. A tweet with incorrect information has also been replaced.
The legendary soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is facing “99 lashes for adultery” if he ever goes to Iran again after a photo went viral of him hugging a married female painter during his last visit.
#Iran
#Ronaldo thanks Fatima #Hamimi for a gift of two paintings she offered him last month pic.twitter.com/OEUu2wIEGV
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War in Ukraine
(@EUFreeCitizen) October 16, 2023
Ronaldo In Hot Water In Iran
Daily Mail reported that the Iranian media is claiming that a large number of lawyers in Iran have filed complaints against Ronaldo over a photo that was taken last month, when the soccer star visited Tehran with Al-Nassr to face Persepolis in the group stage of the Asian Champions League.
During this visit, Ronaldo, who has been in a relationship with the Spanish model Georgina Rodriguez since 2016, met with Fatima Hamimi, an Iranian painter that wanted to present the Portuguese soccer star with a picture that she had made for him. Hamimi, who is believed to be “85 per cent paralyzed” and uses her feet to paint, is a massive fan of Ronaldo’s.
Ronaldo, 38, posed for a photo with Hamimi in which he can be seen hugging her, and it’s been reported that he also kissed her cheek and gave her a signed shirt. Video of Ronaldo’s encounter with Hamimi was shared on the official Al-Nassr Instagram account.
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Iran’s government, or at least officials at the country’s embassy in Spain, have denied that any such action is pending against the soccer star:
Desmentimos rotundamente la emisión de cualquier fallo judicial contra cualquier deportista internacional en Irán. Es motivo de preocupación que la publicación de noticias tan infundadas pueda eclipsar los crímenes de lesa humanidad y los crímenes de guerra contra la oprimida… pic.twitter.com/51xw40L7Gp
— Embajada de Irán en España (@IraninSpain) October 13, 2023
Translated from Spanish, the message reads:
We strongly deny the issuance of any court ruling against any international athlete in Iran. It is a matter of concern that the publication of such unfounded news could overshadow crimes against humanity and war crimes against the oppressed Palestinian nation. It should be noted that Cristiano Ronaldo traveled to Iran on September 18 and 19 to play in an official soccer match and was very well received by the people and the authorities. His sincere and humane meeting with Fatemeh Hamami was also praised and admired by both the people and the country’s sports authorities.
Related: Laura Ingraham Cautions Against ‘Forever Wars’ After Lindsey Graham Calls To Bomb Iran
Adultery In Iran – Ronaldo’s History
Iranian law states that touching a married woman is equivalent to adultery. The Iranian media has stated that Ronaldo, who signed a 2 1/2 year deal with the Saudi Arabian club worth a reported $75 million per year, could be forgiven by a judge if “the acts are not punishable or Ronaldo shows remorse,” according to The New York Post.
While Ronaldo’s team does not play in Iran again during the group stage of the tournament, they may be scheduled to play a game in the country if they make it to the knockout rounds.
Ronaldo has been in a longterm relationship with Rodriguez for seven years, and they share four children together. He is currently with the Portugal national side in the lead-up to their upcoming Euro qualifiers against Slovakia and Bosnia.
Ronaldo has been in trouble with the law before. Back in 2017, he was charged with tax evasion, and was given a suspended two-year jail sentence and a €18.8 million fine that was later reduced to €16.8 million.
Earlier this month, Ronaldo got legal bad news once again when a lawyer representing a woman who has accused him of raping her in Las Vegas in 2009 asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the 2022 dismissal of the case and reopen the civil case filed in 2018. Ronaldo has long denied ever raping the woman.
Cristiano Ronaldo's lawyers return to court TODAY over a new legal battle with his Las Vegas rape accuser https://t.co/6o7kBLGBVx
— Mail Sport (@MailSport) October 4, 2023
Related: Airstrikes Reveal Forever War In Syria Despite ‘Withdrawal’ And Challenge Of Dealing With Iran
Iran’s Message To America
This comes after Iran issued a statement saying that the U.S. “can not renege” on an agreement to transfer $6 billion in frozen funds through mediator Qatar after the devastating Hamas attacks on Israel.
“The US government knows that it can NOT renege on the agreement,” said Ali Karimi Magham, spokesperson of Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations, according to The Times Of Israel.
“The money rightfully belongs to the people of Iran, earmarked for the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to facilitate the acquisition of all essential requisites for the Iranians,” he added.
The U.S. government knows that it can NOT renege on the agreement. The money rightfully belongs to the people of Iran, earmarked for the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to facilitate the acquisition of all essential requisites for the Iranians. https://t.co/85h4W2Tspu
— Ali Karimi Magham (@AliKarimiMagham) October 12, 2023
At the time of this writing, Ronaldo has yet to comment on his situation with Iran.
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