The New York Post and others reported that soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nasr) was in danger of being flogged after visiting Iran to play in an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League match. The reason is that Ronaldo’s act of hugging an Iranian female fan was an act of adultery that violates Islamic law. However, Iranian authorities stated that it was “unfounded news.”
Ronaldo visited Tehran, the capital of Iran, on the 18th and 19th to play the AFC group stage match against Persepolis, a prestigious team in the Iranian professional soccer league. At that time, Ronaldo met Iranian female artist Fatima Hamami. Fatima is known as an artist who paints with her feet because some parts of her body are paralyzed. Fatima met Ronaldo and presented him with a self-painted portrait, saying he was her fan. Ronaldo hugged Fatima and kissed her head as a sign of gratitude. This scene was posted on the official social network service (SNS) of Al-Nasr, where Ronaldo belongs.
Soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo kisses Iranian artist Fatami Hamami on the forehead after hugging her in gratitude for her portrait. Al Nasr official InstagramAfterwards, it was reported through Iranian media that Ronaldo had been accused. The story is that Iranian lawyers, who saw footage of Ronaldo having physical contact with Fatima, filed a complaint against Ronaldo. Lawyers reportedly accused Ronaldo, saying that in Iran, physical contact with an unmarried person of the opposite sex is considered an act of adultery. Citing this, the US New York Post and Spain’s Marca reported that Ronaldo could be flogged 99 times under Iran’s judicial system. Some foreign media, including CNN Brazil, have already reported that Iranian judicial authorities sentenced Ronaldo to 100 lashes.
As the controversy over Ronaldo’s punishment grew, the Iranian Embassy in Spain posted on its official SNS on the 13th, “We strongly reject the court’s ruling on any foreign player who visited Iran,” and added, “Ronaldo visited Iran for two days and spoke to the people and government. “It received a great response,” he said. “The sincere and humane meeting with Fatami Hamami also received praise and respect from both the Iranian people and the sports authorities,” he said. “If this groundless news spreads, will interest in Palestine, who is oppressed by war crimes against humanity, be overshadowed?” “I’m concerned,” he said.
Lee Ye-ji,
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.