Cristiano Ronaldo’s Refusal to Travel to Tehran Due to Fear of Legal Prosecution
Several international media outlets, including Sportmediaset (Italy),Corriere dello Sport (Italy), and Repubblica (Italy), recently reported that Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese star of Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr Club, has refused to travel to Tehran for a match against Esteghlal due to concerns about potential prosecution and punishment under the laws of the Islamic Republic.
Weezha Roz-Kabul-During Al-Nassr’s previous visit to Tehran in 2023 for a match against Persepolis,Fatemeh Hammami, a teenage girl with disabilities, gifted Ronaldo a painting. Ronaldo hugged her in response.
Following this incident, an Iranian lawyer claimed in a post on X(formerly Twitter) that under Islamic Republic laws, Ronaldo should face 99 lashes for “unauthorized physical contact.” Although Iranian judicial authorities never confirmed this claim, it quickly gained media traction.
According to the aforementioned media, Ronaldo and his security team decided to withdraw from the Monday match (24 Ordibehesht, Iranian calendar) against Esteghlal Tehran due to fears of arrest or implementation of the alleged lashing sentence.
Sources close to Ronaldo emphasized that these concerns not technical or sporting issues were the primary reason for his refusal to travel.
The news has sparked widespread reactions on social media. Some view it as evidence of how domestic laws impact international sports relations, while others dismiss the lashing claim as unrealistic or propaganda.
No official response has been issued by Iranian judicial or sports authorities.
Legal Analysis (Based on Iranian Law):Under Article 638 of the Islamic Penal Code, “unauthorized physical contact” between unrelated individuals can lead to punitive measures (lashes).
However, enforcing such a penalty against a foreign athlete in similar circumstances is unprecedented.
Legal experts argue that if the lawyer’s claim is merely a personal opinion, it cannot serve as a legal basis for banning or punishing Ronaldo.
This case highlights how ambiguities in laws or unfounded legal claims can directly influence the decisions of international athletes.
Al-Nassr has not yet officially announced the reason for Ronaldo’s withdrawal.
Sportmediaset, Corriere dello Sport, Repubblica (with specific dates referenced if required).
Weezha Roz
