Cristiano Ronaldo 'could be sentenced to 99 lashes' because of photo that broke key law

Cristiano Ronaldo could be sentenced to 99 lashes in Iran because of a photo that broke a key law, reports in the country have claimed.

As per Mundo Deportivo, Iranian media is claiming that several of the country's lawyers have filed a complaint against Ronaldo due to a picture which was taken in the country back in September.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who is in a relationship with Spanish model Georgina Rodriguez, visited Iran's capital, Tehran, with Al Nassr to face Persepolis in the group stage of the Asian Champions League in September.

During the visit, Ronaldo met Iranian painter Fatima Hamimi, who gifted the Portugal international with a portrait of the player, which she made especially for him.

Subsequently, Ronaldo allegedly kissed her on the cheek and gave her a signed shirt, while he also posed for a photo in which he hugged the artist.

This caught the attention of the Iranian authorities, because as per the county's law, touching a married woman is equivalent to adultery.

In turn, Iranian publication Sharq Emroz, as per Mundo Deportivo, claimed that the Iranian justice system reacted quickly to the photo of the pair and has sentenced Ronaldo to 99 lashes the next time he travels to Iran.

Al Nassr are in a group alongside Iranian side Persepolis, Qatari side Al-Duhail and Takikistan's Istiklol in the Asian Champions League.

Ronaldo is not set to return to Iran in this phase of the competition, but he could be scheduled to set foot on Iranian soil should Al Nassr make the knock-out rounds.

Iranian publications claim if that were to happen, Ronaldo could be arrested by authorities to force him to serve the sentence.

However, Marca claim the sentence could be forgiven by a judge if :the acts are not punishable or Ronaldo shows remorse".

SPORTbible have approached Ronaldo's representatives for comment.

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Topics: Football, Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.