Al Nassr Heads to Iran Without Ronaldo Over Legal Risk

Since Al Nassr, his team, has left him out of the roster to play Esteghlal, Cristiano Ronaldo will not participate in the first leg of the AFC Champions League round of sixteen. The player might pay a penalty for adultery for a scenario that happened in 2023 and the opponent did not want to play in a neutral ground.

Al Nassr was hosted by another Tehran team, Persepolis, in September 2023; due to Cristiano Ronaldo’s attendance, hundreds of supporters stormed the hotel. The players’ safety could be endangered, hence police had to step in to break up the assembly.

Following that, Cristiano Ronaldo was seen hugging and kissing artist Fatemeh Hammami Nasrabadi, who uses her feet to paint despite a handicap. Iranian law says the kiss is not directed by the partner, hence the action may be regarded as adultery. The fine runs up to 99 lashes.

Al Nassr wrote asking to play at a neutral ground, but their opponent has not approved of the idea. Consequently, it has been determined Cristiano will not be on the squad for the game.