According to versions circulating on social networks, footballer Cristiano Ronaldo was sentenced to 99 lashes in Iran for hugging and kissing a woman.This information has been copied twitter account, on Facebook and in various national media (from ABC in Spain to TMZ in the United States).
In Colombia, Cali El Pais headlined: “Cristiano Ronaldo sentenced to 99 lashes in Iran, know why.” The same thing happened with Noticias RCN, which posted on its Instagram account shared the news.
Since our users asked us to verify this information, we ran a polygraph and found that the information was false. The Iranian Embassy in Spain and the painter denied the news.
What is Ronaldo doing?
Publications circulating show a video of Cristiano Ronaldo hugging a woman and kissing her on the head. A reverse search of one of the frames of the video revealed that it was posted on September 19, 2023 by the X account of the Al Nassr team in Saudi Arabia where Cristiano plays. That day, Iranian painter Fetemeh Hamami, who is 85% paralyzed, visited the football player and gave him two paintings she drew with her feet.
The outlets that published the version of Cristiano being sentenced to 99 lashes attributed it to so-called Iranian outlets such as Sharq Emroz (known to others as “Sharg”) and Rouydad24, as well as Italian outlets such as Il Corriere dello Sport and TgLA7.
When searching the purported news from these outlets, a note from Sharg Daily read: “Watch a strange video of Ronaldo showing up in Iran and hugging Fathem after giving him a gift.” And A 32-second video of a man allegedly talking to Cristiano about the whips. Rouydad24 posted the same video without providing further details.
Spanish media Newtral also reviewed the information and translated the video, saying that the man wearing a suit and speaking in front of the camera was actually expressing the view that Cristiano’s meeting with the painter constituted adultery. Article 637 of Iran’s Criminal Procedure Code.
The media also commented that Article 637 of Iran’s Penal Code stipulates: “When unmarried men and women commit indecent acts (…), such as kissing or sleeping together, they will be sentenced to death and receive up to 99 whippings.”
Iran’s embassy in Spain and painter deny Ronaldo’s conviction
In your X account, Embassy of Iran in Spain be rejected “No court ruling against any international athlete in Iran.” A photo of the football player and artist Fatameh Hamami appeared on TikTok.
Hami also denied these rumors through a post on his Instagram account: “I completely reject and deny all news related to complaints against Ronaldo. I love Ronaldo from the bottom of my heart, God bless him.” The painter said in her The Instagram post read: “I wish the best for him, his intentions are pure and I thank God for making my wishes come true. “She added that neither her family nor she had any complaints against Cristiano.
In summary
Claims that Cristiano Ronaldo was sentenced to 99 lashes in Iran are false. Circulating news cited Israeli media as saying that only a video of a man in a suit, with no specific details, was shown saying that hugging Iranian painter Ronaldo violated the country’s Penal Code. However, both the Iranian Embassy in Spain and Hami himself have denied any guilt against the footballer.