The Al Nassr star did not accompany his team to Iran for their recent match against Esteghlal FC.

Ronaldo's absence has sparked speculation linking it to a 2023 incident where Ronaldo hugged and kissed Iranian artist Fatemeh Hammami Nasrabadi, actions that some reports suggest could be considered violations under Iranian law.

In September 2023, that is about 18 months ago, while in Iran with his team Al Nassr, Ronaldo met Fatemeh Hammami, a talented disabled artist who had created portraits of him.

As a sign of appreciation, Ronaldo warmly embraced and kissed her on the cheek. This gesture sparked media speculation about possible legal consequences due to cultural norms.

According to the Daily Mail, reports speculated that the former Real Madrid star could face 99 lashes under Iranian law for embracing and kissing the artist during his visit to Iran.

These claims suggested that his gesture might be considered a violation of Iran’s strict morality laws, which prohibit physical contact between unrelated men and women. However, Iranian authorities later dismissed these reports as false and baseless.

The Iranian authorities dismissed these claims, stating that no legal action would be taken against Ronaldo.

Instead, they praised his kindness and respect towards Hammami, who is a well-known artist with disabilities.

The speculation about punishment turned out to be false, and Ronaldo faced no consequences for his gesture.

“We strongly deny the issuance of any court ruling against any international athlete in Iran,” a spokesperson said.

“His sincere and humane meeting with Fatemeh Hamami was also praised and admired by both the people and the country’s sports authorities,” as per talkSPORT.

According to a report by The Saudi Gazette, Ronaldo did not travel with Al Nassr for their recent match due to muscle fatigue.

The club’s medical team advised him to rest and recover, prioritising his long-term fitness over immediate participation.

This decision was made to ensure that Ronaldo avoided any risk of aggravating the condition, allowing him to return in peak form for upcoming fixtures.

While his absence sparked speculation, the official reason remains a precautionary measure to safeguard his health and maintain his performance levels throughout the season.

On Monday night, Al-Nassr struggled to break the deadlock and settled for a 0-0 draw in Ronaldo’s absence. Without their talismanic forward, the team lacked a cutting edge in attack, failing to convert several key opportunities.

Despite controlling possession for large parts of the game, Al-Nassr couldn't find a way past the opposition's resolute defense.

The result leaves Al-Nassr with dropped points in their campaign, highlighting the impact of Ronaldo’s presence on the pitch.

previously reported on how Ronaldo was warned for his angry reaction following his teammate Duran’s red card.

After Cristiano Ronaldo’s furious reaction to Jhon Duran’s red card in Al Nassr’s defeat, coach Stefano Pioli warned the 40-year-old to maintain composure and discipline on the field.

Source: TUKO.co.ke