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Ace footballer Cristiano Ronaldo did not travel with his Saudi club Al Nassr to Iran to face Esteghlal as he reportedly stands to face 99 lashes for adultery in the country, claims Spanish tabloid Marca.
The player stands to face this penalty after an incident that occurred in 2023, where he hugged and kissed the forehead of a disabled Iranian girl after fans surrounded the team's hotel.
According to Iranian law, the gesture can be considered adultery as the kiss was not given by a spouse, the penalty for which is 99 lashes.
Marca also claims that Al Nassr sent a letter requesting the game to be played on neutral grounds, which their opponents denied. This led to the decision not to include Ronaldo in the matchday squad, the report claimed.
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