Cristiano Ronaldo could face a sentence of ’99 lashes for adultery’ the next time he visits Iran because of a photo with a painter, according to reports in the country.

Iranian media, as per Mundo Deportivo, have claimed that a large number of lawyers in the country have filed a complaint over the Al-Nassr star due to the picture which was taken in his visit there back in September.

Ronaldo, who  is in a relationship with Spanish model Georgina Rodriguez, visited Tehran, the capital of Iran, with Al-Nassr to face Persepolis in the group stage of the Asian Champions League in September.

While there, the Portuguese international met Iranian painter Fatima Hamimi, who wanted to give a picture to the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, which she made especially for him. 

It’s said Ronaldo kissed her on the cheek and gave her a signed shirt, while he also posed for a photo in which he hugs her, which has attracted the ire of Iranian lawyers. 

Cristiano Ronaldo could face a sentence of ’99 lashes for adultery’ on his next visit to Iran because of this photo in which he hugged painter Fatima Hamimi

Ronaldo has been in a long-standing relationship with Spanish model Georgina Rodriguez  

This is because in Iranian law, touching a married woman is equivalent to adultery. 

Hamimi is said to be ’85 per cent paralysed’ and is a massive fan of the Portuguese star.  

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

Al-Nassr are competing in the group stage of the Asian Champions League where they are in Group E alongside Iranian side Persepolis, Qatar side Al-Duhail and Takikistan’s Istiklol.

He will not return to Iran in this phase of the competition but should they made the knock-out rounds, it cannot be ruled out that he will have to set foot on Iranian soil again.

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It’s said that if he does so, Ronaldo could be arrested by authorities in Iran to force him to serve the sentence. 

However, as reported by Marca, the sentence could be forgiven by a judge if ‘the acts are not punishable or Ronaldo shows remorse’. 

Ronaldo is currently training with the Portugal team ahead of their upcoming games

Rodriguez recently posted this picture of her and Ronaldo together in Saudi 

The veteran is seen instructing team-mates during a session in an image from his Instagram

Ronaldo has been in a relationship with Rodriguez since 2016 and they have two children together, Alana Martina and Bella Esmeralda. 

Rodriguez is also mother to his three other children, eldest child Cristiano Jnr, and twins Eva and Mateo, who were born via surrogate. 

Rodriguez and the kids followed Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia when he joined Al-Nassr, in a deal which was confirmed on New Year’s Eve last year.

Mail Sport have approached Ronaldo’s representatives for comment.  

Ronaldo had met the painter after he visited Iran in September for Al-Nassr’s Asian Champions League clash with Persepolis in the country’s capital of Tehran